High-Throughput and High-Efficiency Liquid-Liquid Extraction Column WINTRAY -Review of the Commercial Experiences and Recent Development-

The WINTRAY^®, the liquid-liquid extractor, was commercialized to obtain high-throughput high-efficiency and scum-resistant in the liquid-liquid extraction. It has been used in 19 commercial plants worldwide.

For new construction, the size of the column becomes compact by using WINTRAY^® because of its high throughput and high efficiency. As compared to extractors coming with driving device, the simple structure which consist of trays and weirs with openings, leads to low capital cost and maintenance cost.

For intensification of existing extraction columns, throughput can be increased by replacing the internals with WINTRAY^®. And also, the energy consumption in the solvent recycle section can be saved by reducing the solvent circulation rate of the extraction column.

We herein report the characteristics and commercial examples of process intensification using WINTRAY^® . In addition, the result of the further improvement to increase the throughput are introduced.