Parametric study on dispersed phase holdup and axial drop size distribution in a pulsed disc and doughnut extraction column

A parametric study of the dispersed phase holdup, specific power consumption (P) and axial drop size distribution (ADSD) in a pulsed disc and doughnut column have been carried out with 30% Tri-Butyl Phosphate- 0.01 M nitric acid system. 'P' and holdup decreases with increasing percentage duty cycle and increases exponentially with increased pulsation. Whereas 'P' remains almost independent of total superficial velocity and phase flow ratio. At the top of the extraction section, the most uniform DSD have been observed. Subsequently, Unified empirical correlations have been developed over much wider range for predicting the holdup and Sauter mean diameter.