Abstract

Liquid-liquid extraction is a method used for the separation of a mixture using

two immiscible solvents. Objectives of the first experiment was to determine the
distribution coefficient for the system organic solvent-propionic acid-water and to
show its independence on concentration and objectives for the second experiment is
to demonstrate how a mass balance is performed on the extraction column and to
measure the mass transfer coefficient with the aqueous phase as the continuous
medium. First experiment, 3 different volume of propionic acid of 5, 3 and 1 mL was
mixed up with 50mL organic solvent and 50mL of de-ionised water in conical flask.
The sample of upper and bottom layer this mixture then titrated with 0.1M sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) solution using phenolphthalein as indicator. The volume of NaOH
used to turn the mixture color into light pink was then recorded to determine the
distribution coefficient. The value of distribution coefficient, K by titration with 0.1 M
NaOH is 0.519 in 5mL of propionic acid, 0.462 for 3mL propionic acid and 0.604 for
1mL propionic acid. For the second objectives, the experiment was done using
liquid-liquid extraction unit to obtain feed, raffinate and extract sample. The sample
was titrated against 0.1M and 0.025M NaOH until the sample color turn into light
pink. The value of mass transfer coefficient from liquid-liquid extraction unit was
1.2914 x 10-4 for 0.1M NaOH and 2.6426 x 10 -5 for 0.025M NaOH. During titration,
continuous stirring is important to make sure the titrated sample is mixed well with
the NaOH. If possible used magnetic stirrer to ensure the sample mixed well. Slowly
added the NaOH to obtain the desired light pink color during the titration process.