A formulator’s cut of the phase prism for optimizing selective metal extraction

Solvent-based liquid-liquid extraction and stripping is the key separation method at the basis of all hydrometallurgical processes, such as those used to retrieve strategic metals from ores or waste material. During formulation of an efficient extraction system, chemical engineers often encounter instabilities and the formation of undesired phases. In order to avoid the appearance of those in practice, we propose a simple and convenient approach of the phase diagram, based on mole ratio of cations as the variable that controls interfacial curvature. The proposed formulator’s cut through the Gibbs phase prism is more adapted than fish-cuts or similar ones in the case of extraction and stripping formulation optimized against variation in the feed composition.