Multi-stage liquid/liquid extraction with a zaiput apparatus

Poorly separable liquid/liquid mixtures often pose a major challenge in pharmaceutical extraction. In particular, compounds containing a low difference of density are difficult to separate using mixer-settler setups. The Zaiput device can prove an advantage over present liquid/liquid extractors. The research work involves characterizing the Zaiput apparatus for liquid/liquid extraction of pharmaceutical compounds with the model solvent system toluene-water. The extraction efficiency was investigated for a solvent mixture containing toluene-acetone-water residence times. To evaluate the separation success, the outlet’s concentrations are measured via IR spectroscopy.