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Liquid–liquid microflow patterns and mass transfer of radionuclides in the systems Eu(III)/HNO3/DMDBTDMA and U(VI)/HCl/Aliquat® 336

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Abstract

Two phases (liquid–liquid extraction) stratified flows in a rectangular geometry are investigated in a double-Y shape glass chip. The influence of physical properties, in particular the viscosity of the two liquids, on the velocity profiles is determined numerically. Viscosity affects the shapes of the velocity profiles of each phase. The extraction conditions (acid concentrations, contact times) in batch and in the microfluidic device were considered for a neutral extractant, N,N′-dimethyl N,N′-dibutyl tetradecylmalonamide (DMDBTDMA) and a liquid anion exchanger (Aliquat® 336), for the extraction of Eu(III) from HNO3 and U(VI) from HCl, respectively. The effects of viscosity and operating conditions on extraction performances were investigated, and the apparent rate constants were evaluated for the extraction of uranium by Aliquat® 336 k app = (0.55 ± 0.03) s−1 and for the extraction of europium by DMDBTDMA: k app = (2.9 ± 0.2) × 10−3 s−1.

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Abbreviations

B o :

Bond number

C a :

Capillary number

\(\mathcal{D}_{\text{M}}\) :

Distribution ratio of M in batch

\({\mathcal{P}}_{\text{M, microsystem}}\) :

Distribution ratio of M in microsystem

D :

Diffusion coefficient

D H :

Hydraulic diameter (m)

E f :

Enrichment factor

g :

Gravitational acceleration (m s−2)

H:

Width of the microchannel (m)

h :

Position of the interface (m)

k app :

Initial rate constant (s−1)

L :

Length of the microchannel (m)

L e :

Entrance length (m)

Q :

Flow rate (m2 s−1 in 1D)

R :

Curvature radius of the interface (m)

Re :

Reynolds number

t :

Contact time (s)

v :

Superficial velocity (m s−1)

\(\left\langle v \right\rangle\) :

Average superficial velocity (m s−1)

W :

Depth of the microchannel (m)

We :

Weber number

V :

Volume (m3)

ρ :

Density (kg m−3)

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (Pa s)

γ a/o :

Interfacial tension (N m−1)

∇P :

Pressure gradient (Pa m−1)

θ max :

Curvature angle of the interface (rad)

%E :

Extraction efficiency (%)

[]:

Concentration (mol L−1)

overbar:

In organic phase

DMDBTDMA:

N,N′-dimethyl N,N′-dibutyl tetradecylmalonamide

R4NCl:

Aliquat® 336

eq:

At equilibrium

a:

In aqueous phase

o:

In organic phase

i:

Initial

exp:

Experimental

th:

Theoretical

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DEN/DANS/DPC/SEARS/LANIE, CEA Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

    Gwendolyne Hellé & Clarisse Mariet

  2. IRCP, UMR CNRS 8247, Chimie ParisTech, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France

    Gérard Cote

Authors
  1. Gwendolyne Hellé
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  2. Clarisse Mariet
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  3. Gérard Cote
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Correspondence to Clarisse Mariet.

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Hellé, G., Mariet, C. & Cote, G. Liquid–liquid microflow patterns and mass transfer of radionuclides in the systems Eu(III)/HNO3/DMDBTDMA and U(VI)/HCl/Aliquat® 336. Microfluid Nanofluid 17, 1113–1128 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-014-1403-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-014-1403-1

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