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Solvent extraction facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Sodium benzoate changes from the organic solvent to the water phase, neutral Benzil (shown in yellow) remains in the organic phase. In this case, the organic supstance is on top, because the density of the organic solvent MTBE (0,74 g·cm−3) is lower than that of the other phase (about 1,00 g·cm−3).]] Solvent extraction, also known as Liquid–liquid extraction or partitioning, is a method to separate a compound based on the solubility of its parts. This is done using two liquids that don't mix, for example water and an organic solvent.

Solvent extraction is used in the processing of perfumes, vegetable oil, or biodiesel. It is also used to recover plutonium from irradiated nuclear fuel, a process which is usually called nuclear reprocessing. The recovered plutonium can then be re-used as nuclear fuel.

In this process one of the components of a mixture dissolves in a particular liquid and the other component is separated as a residue by filtration.

Images for kids

  • Solvent extraction

    Solvent extraction.

  • Coflore ACX

    Coflore continuous countercurrent extractor.

  • Mixer-settler-schema

    4 stage battery of mixer-settlers for counter-current extraction.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Extracción líquido-líquido para niños

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Solvent extraction Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.