Centrifugal extractors play a key role in precious metal extraction. Their core advantage lies in using centrifugal force to improve the efficiency and selectivity of liquid-liquid extraction. The following is an explanation from four aspects: principle, advantages, applications and cases:

I. Working principle

The centrifugal extractor forms a supergravity environment through high-speed rotation (3000-4000 rpm) to accelerate the mixing and mass transfer of the aqueous phase (containing precious metals) and the organic phase (containing the extractant). The process is divided into two steps: one is mixed mass transfer, the impeller shears the two phases into fine droplets, increases the contact area, and allows the precious metal ions to combine with the extractant; the second is centrifugal separation. Under the action of centrifugal force, the organic phase with lower density gathers toward the center of the mixed liquid, and the aqueous phase moves outward and is discharged through different outlets to achieve precious metal enrichment.

II. Technical advantages

1. Efficient mass transfer: Centrifugal force accelerates the contact between the two phases, the mass transfer rate far exceeds that of traditional equipment, and the extraction efficiency is significantly improved.

2. Precision separation: It can handle systems with small density differences and achieve precise separation of trace precious metals.

3. Continuous operation: supports large-scale continuous production, with a daily processing capacity of tens of tons.

4. Environmental protection and economy: the fully enclosed design avoids the leakage of harmful gases, the recycling rate of the extractant is high, the waste liquid discharge is small, and the operating cost is reduced.

III. Application scenarios

Centrifugal extractors are widely used in precious metal extraction, resource recycling, chemical and pharmaceutical fields. For example, rare and precious metals are recovered from ore leachate, electronic waste, and industrial wastewater; retired lithium batteries and circuit board etching liquid are treated to achieve closed-loop metal recovery; used for fine chemical synthesis and extraction of active pharmaceutical ingredients to improve product purity.

IV. Actual cases

In gold ore extraction, the centrifugal extractor is combined with the LIX series of extractants, and the gold recovery rate reaches 96%, and the purity meets the electrolytic copper production standards. In the recycling of electronic waste, the copper-containing acid etching liquid is treated, and the copper recovery rate reaches 97%, while the purity of the copper product is improved. In the separation of platinum group metals, the precise separation of trace platinum group metals is achieved, and the recovery rate exceeds 95%.

Centrifugal extractors, with their high efficiency, environmental protection and continuity, have become an indispensable core equipment in the field of precious metal extraction, promoting resource recycling and green production.