Solvent Extraction (SX)

The Tenova Settler™ is a patented technology that enhances efficiency and provides numerous advantages as compared to conventional settlers used in traditional SX circuits.

• High process efficiency with low organic loss
• Compact layout
• Short construction time
• Low capital cost
• Ease of operation and maintenance

Some of the many advantages of the Tenova Settler™ technology as compared to similar designs include:

• Approximately a 20 % lower in capital cost for the SX plant
• Increased flux rate capability which can further reduce costs
• Decreased organic losses
• Operator friendly physical layout
• Total automatic control capability
• Improved fire prevention and control features

The Tenova Pulsed Column is a highly efficient and cost-effective contactor that enhances SX during the extraction, stripping and scrubbing or washing processes.
Some of the many advantages of the Tenova Pulsed Column technology include:

• The extraction is a multi-stage continuous process
• The system can handle liquids with suspended solids or which form third phases
• Safe and environmentally friendly process
• The columns have no internal moving parts
• A fully automated system
• Low maintenance and operating costs
• Dramatically reduces floor space required
• Head space can be inerted, virtually eliminating solvent loss and fire risk

Virtually all industrial SX processes can be enhanced by employing the Tenova Pulsed Column technology; particularly those with a fast rate of mass transfer – some of these include:

• Minerals processing: uranium, nickel, cobalt, zinc, titanium
• Chemical industry: nitric, phosphoric and hydrochloric acid
• Environmental protection: recovery of nitrates, sulfuric acid, cyanides, and halides
• Additional applications include: pharmaceutical, food and petroleum industries

A few unique capabilities of this mixing technology:

• Creates uniform dispersion in the mixing tank (avoiding formation of small droplets)
• Predictable and controlled drop size distribution as a function of the mixing regime, allowing process optimization

Some of the advantages of the Tenova Turbulent Technologies Mixing System include:

• Reduction in entrainment of expensive extractants
• Reduction in organic contamination in the product stream
• Reduction in ecological impact of organics in the raffinate stream
• Enabling of an increase of settling flux (flow per unit settler area) while maintaining the same level of entrainment
• Reduction in maintenance costs
• Elimination of the need for after-settlers

We have implemented SX projects across a range of commodities, many of which moved from laboratory test work, bench and mini-pilot plant testing, through to pilot and demonstration plants, and implementation of full-scale industrial plants.

• Minerals and metals industry: processing of uranium, copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, zinc, rare earth elements and vanadium
• Specialized SX processes for the minerals industry including sulfuric acid, halides and cyanide removal
• Chemical industry: processing of nitric, phosphoric, hydrochloric and citric acids, inorganic salts and organic solvents
• Bio-based chemical industry: downstream separation of bio-based products and bio-fuels
• Environmental protection: effluent treatment, removal of nitrates and heavy metals
• Petrochemical industry: processing of lubricant oils and caprolactam