| Pod Centrifugal Contactors, Liquid-Liquid Extractors, are unique processing systems. Regularly used for extraction, reaction, chemical washing, and phase separation, they utilize centrifugal force to accelerate processing speed in a compact unit. Phase separation is a function of applied force and time, so accelerated force means you need less time and obtain more productivity.
The Pod Contactor, Liquid-Liquid Extractor, may be envisioned as a sieve plate tower wrapped around a shaft. Counter-current movement of the heavy and light liquids takes place under the influence of centrifugal force developed by rotating the Contactor.
Thus, the force that moves the heavy liquid outward and light liquid inward is thousands of times greater than the natural gravitational force upon which a conventional tower depends; resulting in a great reduction in the height and time required to achieve a counter-current extraction.
The Importance of Intimate Contact
The actual processing of the liquids occurs through "intimate contact" ; created by the repeated droplet generation and subsequent coalescence of the two media as they flow counter-current to one another through a series of concentric perforated elements. This allows the product in one stream to be transferred to the other - Liquid-Liquid Extraction.
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Capacity
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E*
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F*
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Pod Model
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m3/hr
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gpm
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m3/hr
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gpm
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| A-25 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.05 |
0.2 |
| B-250 |
9 |
40 |
6 |
25 |
| D-450 |
34 |
150 |
15 |
65 |
| D-900 |
68 |
300 |
30 |
130 |
| E-1200 |
136 |
600 |
60 |
260 |
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| * Typical applications: |
| E = |
Multistage extraction or washing with specific gravity differences between immiscible phases of nominally 0.05 to 0.15. |
| F = |
Fermentation Recovery, broth extraction, with similar gravity differences (but the broth is often emulsifiable). |
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| Reaction is similar to extraction except that a chemical reaction causes the transfer of soluble product from one liquid medium to another.
Chemical washing works the same way, only with water as one of the two liquids.
In separation, the counter-current contact zone is eliminated and the entire rotor dedicated to phase separation. Particularly suitable for corrosive services such as the separation of sulfuric acid or oleum sludges from treated petroleum fractions where special alloy materials of construction are required.
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Typical Pod Applications
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Extraction
Tylosin, fermentation recovery
Biodiesel
Lovastatin
Erythromycin, fermentation recovery
Chemical Washing
Plasticizers
Butyl Acrylate
Maleic Anhydride
Polymer Washing
Polyether Polyols
Polycarbonates
Bromobutyl Rubber |
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Gravity is Very Specific
And so is the Pod Extractor. As we mentioned, the Pod Liquid-Liquid Extractor can process materials with remarkably minute specific gravity differentials. The Pod Liquid-Liquid Extractor can separate materials with specific gravities as low as 0.01, and still maintain high production levels. The capability to multiply gravity allows more viscous feeds or solvents to be processed with no loss in efficiency.
On Bugs, Orange Peels and Pregnant Horses
The Pod's processing versatility allows us to tailor the system to suit almost any liquid/liquid extraction application. Penicillin fermentation recovery. Citral flavoring. Estrogen recovery from expectant mares. Pods process most of the world's fermentation-produced antibiotics.
Pod Extractors are used for solvent extraction, fermentation recovery, water washing, liquid ion exchange for heavy metals recovery, phenolic oil washing, lube oil extraction, nap acid recovery ... you get the idea.
Click for Pod Contactor Dimensions
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