Extractability testing solvent extraction

The most common method for screening potential extractive solvents is to use gas—hquid chromatography (qv) to determine the infinite-dilution selectivity of the components to be separated in the presence of the various solvent candidates (71,72). The selectivity or separation factor is the relative volatihty of the components to be separated (see eq. 3) in the presence of a solvent divided by the relative volatihty of the same components at the same composition without the solvent present. A potential solvent can be examined in as htfle as 1—2 hours using this method. The tested solvents are then ranked in order of infinite-dilution selectivities, the larger values signify the better solvents. Eavorable solvents selected by this method may in fact form azeotropes that render the desired separation infeasible. 

Modolo, G., Asp, H., Schreinemachers, C., Vijgen, H. 2007. Development of a TODGA based process for partitioning of actinides from a PUREX raffinate Part I Batch extraction optimization studies and stability tests. Solvent Extr. Ion Exch. 25 (6) 703-721. 

Extractable ik- strak-to-bol n [ME, fr. L extractus, pp of extrahere, fr. ex- + trahere to draw] (15c) The amount of soluble material extracted from a polymer specimen when it has been exposed to a solvent under specified conditions. In ASTM Test D 4754, disks of the polymer and glass separator beads are alternately threaded onto a stainless-steel wire and slipped into a vial containing the test solvent. The tightly closed vial is placed in an oven, and the solvent is sampled and analyzed periodically. 

Procedure The tested solvent (0.5 ml) is added slowly to 5 ml of ice-cold nitration mixture in a 150-ml Erlenmeyer flask, which is then stoppered and allowed to stand for 1 hr. The reaction mixture is then diluted, tmder steady cooling, with 50 ml of water, and 15 ml of 30% sodium hydroxide solution is added until the reaction of the mixture is alkaline to litmus. The mixture is then transferred to a separatory funnel and thoroughly extracted with 30 —40 ml of water." The ethereal layer is then put into a porcelain dish and the ether is evaporated carefully. The residue is dissolved in 50 ml of butanol. A part of this solution is put into a test tube and mixed with sodium hydroxide solution. The appearance of a red to violet color means a positive reaction. 

Like bromine, iodine is soluble in organic solvents, for example chloroform, which can be used to extract it from an aqueous solution. The iodine imparts a characteristic purple colour to the organic layer this is used as a test for iodine (p. 349). NB Brown solutions are formed when iodine dissolves in ether, alcohol, and acetone. In chloroform and benzene a purple solution is formed, whilst a violet solution is produced in carbon disulphide and some hydrocarbons. These colours arise due to charge transfer (p. 60) to and from the iodine and the solvent organic molecules. 

CAUTION. Ethers that have been stored for long periods, particularly in partly-filled bottles, frequently contain small quantities of highly explosive peroxides. The presence of peroxides may be detected either by the per-chromic acid test of qualitative inorganic analysis (addition of an acidified solution of potassium dichromate) or by the liberation of iodine from acidified potassium iodide solution (compare Section 11,47,7). The peroxides are nonvolatile and may accumulate in the flask during the distillation of the ether the residue is explosive and may detonate, when distilled, with sufficient violence to shatter the apparatus and cause serious personal injury. If peroxides are found, they must first be removed by treatment with acidified ferrous sulphate solution (Section 11,47,7) or with sodium sulphite solution or with stannous chloride solution (Section VI, 12). The common extraction solvents diethyl ether and di-tso-propyl ether are particularly prone to the formation of peroxides. 

Hydrolysis of a sulphonamide. Mix 2 g. of the sulphonamide with 3-5 ml. of 80 per cent, sulphuric acid in a test-tube and place a thermometer in the mixture. Heat the test-tube, with frequent stirring by means of the thermometer, at 155-165° until the solid passes into solution (2-5 minutes). Allow the acid solution to cool and pour it into 25-30 ml. of water. Render the resulting solution alkaline with 20 per cent, sodium hydroxide solution in order to liberate the free amine. Two methods may be used for isolating the base. If the amine is volatile in steam, distil the alkaline solution and collect about 20 ml. of distillate extract the amine with ether, dry the ethereal solution with anhydrous potassium carbonate and distil off the solvent. If the amine is not appreciably steam-volatile, extract it from the alkaline solution with ether. The sulphonic acid (as sodium salt) in the residual solution may be identified as detailed under 13. 

Step 3. The neutral components. The ethereal solution (E remaining after the acid extraction of Step 2 should contain only the neutral compounds of Solubility Groups V, VI and VII (see Table XI,5). Dry it with a little anhydrous magnesium sulphate, and distil off the ether. If a residue is obtained, neutral compounds are present in the mixture. Test a portion of this with respect to its solubility in concentrated sulphuric acid if it dissolves in the acid, pour the solution slowly and cautiously into ice water and note whether any compound is recovered. Examine the main residue for homogeneity and if it is a mixture devise procedures, based for example upon differences in volatility, solubility in inert solvents, reaction with hydrolytic and other reagents, to separate the components. 

Aromatic and Nonaromatic Hydrocarbon Separation. Aromatics are partially removed from kerosines and jet fuels to improve smoke point and burning characteristics. This removal is commonly accompHshed by hydroprocessing, but can also be achieved by Hquid-Hquid extraction with solvents, such as furfural, or by adsorptive separation. Table 7 shows the results of a simulated moving-bed pilot-plant test using siHca gel adsorbent and feedstock components mainly in the C q—range. The extent of extraction does not vary gready for each of the various species of aromatics present. SiHca gel tends to extract all aromatics from nonaromatics (89). 

Analytical and test methods for the characterization of polyethylene and PP are also used for PB, PMP, and polymers of other higher a-olefins. The C-nmr method as well as k and Raman spectroscopic methods are all used to study the chemical stmcture and stereoregularity of polyolefin resins. In industry, polyolefin stereoregularity is usually estimated by the solvent—extraction method similar to that used for isotactic PP. Intrinsic viscosity measurements of dilute solutions in decahn and tetraHn at elevated temperatures can provide the basis for the molecular weight estimation of PB and PMP with the Mark-Houwiok equation, [rj] = KM. The constants K and d for several polyolefins are given in Table 8. 

Catalyst Cation. The logarithms of extraction constants for symmetrical tetra- -alkylammonium salts (log rise by ca 0.54 per added C atom. Although absolute numerical values for extraction coefficients are vastly different in various solvents and for various anions, this relation holds as a first approximation for most solvent—water combinations tested and for many anions. It is important to note, however, that the lipophilicity of phenyl and benzyl groups carrying ammonium salts is much lower than the number of C atoms might suggest. Benzyl is extracted between / -propyl and -butyl. The extraction constants of tetra- -butylammonium salts are about 140 times larger than the constants for tetra- -propylammonium salts of the same anion in the same solvent—water system. 

Supercritical fluid solvents have been tested for reactive extractions of liquid and gaseous fuels from heavy oils, coal, oil shale, and biomass. In some cases the solvent participates in the reactions, as in the hydrolysis of coal and heavy oils with water. Related applications include conversion of cellulose to glucose in water, dehgnincation of wood with ammonia, and liquefaction of lignin in water. 

In recent years researchers at West Virginia University have developed coal-derived pitches on a laboratory scale in quantities sufficient to make 1 kg samples of calcined coke for fashioning graphite test specimens. The pitches were derived by uhlizmg solvent extraction with N-methyl pyrrohdone (NMP). This solvent is able to isolate coal-based pitches m high yield and with low mineral matter content [13]. It is this work that will form the basis of the discussion for the later part of this chapter. 

The solvents were evaporated in vacuo, and the residue was taken up in 80 ml of 3M hydrochloric acid. After addition of 220 ml of water, the insoluble material was filtered off, washed with 100 ml of water and then dried. The insoluble material weighed 9.5 g and was mainly unreacted bromo compound. The filtrate was reacted with 50 ml of 7 M NaOH, extracted three times with methylene chloride (50 m -t 2 x 25 ml portions), dried over potassium carbonate, and then evaporated. The yield of residue was 26.8 g which corresponds to 71.4% of the theoretical yield. This residue was a colorless solidifying oil and was dissolved in 200 ml chloroform. Hydrogen chloride was bubbled in until a sample of the solution tested acidic to wet pH indicator paper. A precipitate was obtained and recovered by filtration. The precipitate was washed with chloroform and dried. The melting point was determined to be from 246 Cto247.5°C. 

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