SAMPLE PROBLEM #11

Roasted copper ore containing as

CuSO4 is to be extracted in a
countercurrent stage extractor. Each
hour, a charge consisting of 10 tons
gangue, 1.2 tons CuSO4, and 0.5 ton
water is to be treated. The strong
solution produced is to consist of
90% water and 10% CuSO4 by weight.
The recovery of CuSO4 is to be 98% of
that in the ore. Pure water is to be
used as fresh solvent. After each
stage, one ton of inert gangue
retained, 2 tons of water plus the
copper sulfate dissolved in that water.
Equilibrium is attained at each stage.
Calculate the number of stages
required.
SOLUTION
98% recovery
10% CuSO4
90% water n=?
||
V1 SLE 1 SLE 2 SLE n Vn+1
||

ore
Lo Ln
10 tons/h gangue retention = 2 tons solution
1 ton gangue
1.2 tons/h CuSO4
0.5 tons/h water
• Feed Lo:
Lo = 10 + 1.2 + 0.5 = 11.7

• Solvent Vn+1: solute

VAN+1 = solute = 0
solution
• Final underflow, Ln:
gangue = 10 tons
solution = 2 tons solution
1 ton gangue
solution = 20 tons solution

 Ln = 10 + 20 = 30
 solute = 0.1 + 1.2 = 1.3
 XAN = solute = 1.3 = 0.065
solution 20
• Final Overflow, V1:
Y1 = 0.1
solute = 0.98 x 1.2 = 1.176
V1 = 1.176 = 11.76
0.1
• First underflow, L1:
XA1 = solute = YA1 = 0.1
solution
gangue = 10
solution = 20
L1 = 10 + 20 = 30
solute = 0.1 x 20 = 2

• Overflow from SLE 2, V2:

material balance at SLE 1,
Lo + V2 = L1 + V1
11.7 + V2 = 30 + 11.76
V2 = 30 + 11.76 – 11.7

V2 = 30.06
solute balance at SLE 1,
XAoLo + YA2V2 = XA1L1 + YA1V1
1.2 + YA2 x 30.06 = 2 + 1.176

YA2 = 0.066
• Kremser Equation for Constant Underflow:

log YAN+1 – XAN

YA2 – XA1
n–1 =
YAN+1 – YA2
log
XAN – XA1

n–1 = log 0 – 0.065

0.066 – 0.1
log 0 – 0.066
0.065 – 0.1
n–1 = 1.022

 n = 2.02 = 2