Please enter subscribe form shortcode
Please enter instagram feed shortcode
A column is a vertical vessel used in chemical process industries to bring two different phases into intimate contact so that mass transfer can occur and a mixture can be separated into different components.
The type of column (distillation or extraction) depends on the phases involved and the separation principle.
| Aspect | Extraction Column |
|---|---|
| Separation Basis | Difference in solubility in two immiscible liquids |
| Phases Involved | Liquid–liquid |
| Energy Requirement | Low (pumps, sometimes agitation) |
| Operating Temperature | Can be low, even ambient |
| Internals | Trays, packing, rotating disc contactors, pulsed columns |
| Number of Phases Exiting | Two liquid phases (extract & raffinate) |
| Parameter | Typical Range / Notes |
|---|---|
| Packing Type | Raschig rings, structured packing, perforated plates |
| Material of Construction (MOC) | Stainless Steel, Mild steel, Hastelloy |
| Continuous Phase | Opposite of dispersed phase |
| Mixing Method | Gravity flow, mechanical agitation, pulsing |