Mini Liquid-Liquid Extractor without Moving Parts Based on the Coanda Effect

A mini liquid-liquid extractor was designed based on a feedback fluidic oscillator. According to the Coanda effect, the designed oscillator with two feedback channels enables good mixing of the aqueous and organic phases. Co-current liquid-liquid extraction was performed in the mini extractor, and it was visually observed that the aqueous phase was dispersed into small droplets because of fluidic oscillation and vortex formation. The aqueous phase was more effectively dispersed at the stage near the outlet and with increasing flow. Several tests were performed for evaluating the extraction performance of the extractor using 30% tributyl phosphate-kerosene and 3M HNO3 solutions as the organic and aqueous phases, respectively. The obtained extraction efficiency was close to the equilibrium efficiency, indicating that this extractor has the potential for liquid-liquid extraction of hazardous liquids.