Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by liquid cation exchanger in a jet loop contactor

The paper focuses on the use of naphthenic acid as a low cost ion exchanger for removing heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Extraction of Cu++ from dilute aqueous solutions by naphthenic acid dissolved in kerosene in a simple jet loop reactor was studied. Variables studied were; circulation velocity, initial Cu++ concentration, nozzle diameter and nozzle height (the vertical distance between nozzle and the surface of the liquid in the reactor). An increase in the rate of extraction was observed with increasing nozzle diameter and circulation velocity. Increasing initial metal ion concentration and the nozzle height was found to decrease the rate of extraction. The rate of extraction was expressed in terms of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kA), the data were correlated by the dimensionless equation:Shm=0.044Sc0.33Re1.54Ldn−0.36 The possibility of using the present reactor for removing heavy metals such as removal of copper from printed circuit etching solution, pickling solutions, electroplating and electroless plating rinse solution and copper mines drainage solutions was highlighted. •Extraction of Cu++ from aqueous solutions by solvent extraction technique was studied.•Naphthenic acid as a low cost extracting agent in a simple jet loop extractor was used.•The performance of the jet loop extractor was studied under various conditions.•A design equation for the extractor was obtained at the present conditions.