Continuous collection method of particle component in aqueous solution and apparatus therefor

Abstract

The particle components may be collected by using a phenomenon that the particle components in the aqueous phase aggregate at the liquid-to-liquid interface. Both of the particle components and the dissolved components in the aqueous phase may be simultaneously collected if combined with liquid-liquid extraction phenomenon that the dissolved components in the aqueous phase are collected into the solvent phase through the liquid-to-liquid interface. The aggregation phenomenon of the particle components at the liquid-to-liquid interface may be promoted by using an emulsion flow method, a method of applying mechanical external forces (such as stirring and vibrating) or another method combining both the above-mentioned methods.

1 . A continuous collection method of a particle component in an aqueous solution, wherein, by using a phenomenon that a particle component in an aqueous solution aggregates at a liquid-to-liquid interface between an aqueous solution phase and a solvent phase having hydrophobic nature and not mixing with water, a particle component in the aqueous solution is continuously collected without using a filter. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an emulsion state in which the aqueous phase and the solvent phase are well mixed and formed in emulsion, and then aggregation of the particle component at said liquid-to-liquid interface is promoted. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, by spouting at least one of the aqueous phase and the solvent phase as fine-grained liquid droplet, an emulsion flow of said emulsion state of mixed two liquid phases is made generated. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said emulsion state is made generated by applying a mechanical external force. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said emulsion state is generated by spouting at least one of the aqueous phase and the solvent phase as fine-grained liquid droplet, and by applying a mechanical external force. 
     
     
         6 . A continuous collection method of a particle component in an aqueous solution, wherein a particle component and a dissolved component in an aqueous phase are simultaneously collected by using an aggregation phenomenon that the particle component in the aqueous phase aggregates at a liquid-to-liquid interface and by using a liquid-to-liquid extraction phenomenon that the dissolved component in the aqueous phase is extracted into the solvent phase through the liquid-to-liquid interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein an emulsion state is generated by mixing the aqueous phase and the solvent phase, and the aggregation phenomenon that the particle component in the aqueous phase aggregates at a liquid-to-liquid interface and the extraction phenomenon that the dissolved component in the aqueous phase is extracted into the solvent phase through the liquid-to-liquid interface are made promoted. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generation of emulsion flow and phase separation due to annihilation of emulsion flow are made synchronized each other in a single apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said phase separation is caused by a flow rate decrease and turbulence in the emulsion flow due to a rapid increase in the volume of a part through which the emulsion flow passes, and thereby the emulsion state may change to a phase separation state of an aqueous phase and an solvent phase. 
     
     
         10 . A counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus comprising means for spouting at least one of an aqueous phase and an extracting solvent phase as fine-grained liquid droplet to generate an emulsion state flow (emulsion flow) of mixed two liquid phases. 
     
     
         11 . A counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus comprising an apparatus including a first head part for spouting an aqueous phase, a second head part for spouting an extracting solvent phase, said second head part arranged in an opposite position to said first head part, a column part where said emulsion flow generates, an upper phase separation part installed at an upper side of the column part and a lower phase separation part installed at a lower side of the column part, and further comprising a fluid supply pump. 
     
     
         12 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a cross-section area of said upper phase separation part and said lower phase separation part increases so that an emulsion state may change to a phase separation state of an aqueous phase and an extracting solvent phase by means of a flow rate decrease and turbulence in an emulsion flow due to a rapid increase in the volume of a part through which the emulsion flow passes. 
     
     
         13 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said upper phase separation part and said lower phase separation part are vessels with a narrow mouth having a volume smaller than the volume of said column part inserted in said column part. 
     
     
         14 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein liquid-liquid extraction due to the occurrence of emulsion flow by a counter-current method and phase separation due to the annihilation of emulsion flow are made synchronized each other in a single apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said mechanical external force is one of stirring, vibrating (shaking), centrifugal force and ultrasonic wave. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said mechanical external force is one of stirring, vibrating (shaking), centrifugal force and ultrasonic wave. 
     
     
         17 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a cross-section area of said upper phase separation part and said lower phase separation part increases so that an emulsion state may change to a phase separation state of an aqueous phase and an extracting solvent phase by means of a flow rate decrease and turbulence in an emulsion flow due to a rapid increase in the volume of a part through which the emulsion flow passes. 
     
     
         18 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said upper phase separation part and said lower phase separation part are vessels with a narrow mouth having a volume smaller than the volume of said column part inserted in said column part. 
     
     
         19 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein liquid-liquid extraction due to the occurrence of emulsion flow by a counter-current method and phase separation due to the annihilation of emulsion flow are made synchronized each other in a single apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein liquid-liquid extraction due to the occurrence of emulsion flow by a counter-current method and phase separation due to the annihilation of emulsion flow are made synchronized each other in a single apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The counter-current type emulsion flow continuous liquid-liquid extraction apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein liquid-liquid extraction due to the occurrence of emulsion flow by a counter-current method and phase separation due to the annihilation of emulsion flow are made synchronized each other in a single apparatus.