Phase Disengagement
also known as phase separation time · coalescence time
Phase disengagement time is measured from the moment agitation stops until the two phases form clean continuous layers with a defined interface. It depends on droplet size, interfacial tension, the presence of surface-active species, and temperature. It is the single most important number for sizing a settler.
Why it matters in practice
Settler area is set by the flow passing through it divided by the allowed settling velocity, which is derived from the disengagement time. Under-estimating it is the classic cause of a circuit that runs perfectly at bench scale and floods its settlers at pilot scale.
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Reference entry GL-PHASE-DISENGAGEMENT. Definitions on this page describe engineering practice in hydrometallurgical process design; they are not a substitute for test work on your own material.