Investigation of dispersed phase holdup in a Tenova pulsed liquid-liquid extraction column

•Our work is on a very new type of pulsed column (introduced in 2017). Just a few researches on hydrodynamic parameters of this column are reported.•An equation for predicting the dispersed phase hold-up based on physical properties and operating conditions with an error about 8% presented.•First and second pulse intensity critical are presented for pulsed columns. Operating pulse intensity recommended between these two values. Pulsed extraction columns have been designed and studied in different types of internal equipment such as packed, tray, and doughnut discs. In recent years (2017), researchers have turned to research on Tenova columns, which is the newest generation of pulsed columns. Correlations for predicting the hydrodynamics of the Tenova column have not been reported. A pulsed Tenova column with a 7.4 cm diameter and 130 cm height including 30 pairs of modified doughnuts and discs was fabricated and tested. Standard chemical systems with low, medium, and high interfacial tension approved by the European Federation of Liquid-Liquid Extraction are used. Holdup as one of the most important hydrodynamic parameters in designing is studied. The effects of dispersed and continuous phase velocity and pulsation intensity have been taken into account. Dimensional analysis used for predicting hold-up and an error about 8% have been obtained. Other experimental relations proposed by researchers in pulsed columns have been studied and the error of about 16% found. First and second critical pulsation intensity, which are the commencement and the end of breaking of drops has been seen in these experiments. The recommended operating pulsation intensity is between these two critical values. [Display omitted]