S. Rahmati, A. Ahmadi, M.R. Hosseini, M. M. Nasab, Optimization of continuous air assisted solvent extraction for treating dilute Cu Leach Solutions using response surface methodology. Minerals Engineering (2019) 131(15): 154-163.

A newly designed air-assisted solvent extraction (AASX) system was used to extract Cu from dilute solutions in a continuous-mode at pilot scale. The effects of some operational and chemical parameters including aqueous phase flowrate, extractant concentration, organic phase level in an organic coating cylinder (OCC level), Cu concentration, and silicone oil dosage on the efficiency of AASX process were investigated using a response surface methodology. The main and interaction effects of the variables on Cu recovery (26–85%), organic phase recycling (the portion of entered organic phase transferred to the column overflow for stripping, 7–56%), and aqueous/organic phase ratio (A/O, 59–435) were evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the addition of silicone oil increased Cu recovery and reduced organic phase recycling. Also, increasing OCC level caused to reduce A/O …