Pilot Solvent Extraction Plant, 10–50 L/h: Scope and Equipment List
This is a reference configuration, not a customer case: it describes the equipment scope we typically build for a 10–50 L/h pilot SX circuit, so you can compare quotations on a like-for-like basis.
Scope
| Item | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mixer-settler stages | 2 extraction + 1 scrub + 1 strip, PMMA or PP | Transparent PMMA for visual observation at pilot scale |
| Mixer volume | 1–5 L per stage | Residence 2–5 min; variable-speed drive |
| Settler area | 0.1–0.4 m² per stage | Design flux 2–5 m³/m²·h |
| Organic inventory | 20–60 L | Depends on stage count and O/A |
| Pumps | Peristaltic or diaphragm, 4–6 units | Variable speed, PP/PVDF wetted |
| Instrumentation | pH, ORP, flow, level, temperature | Logged; 4–20 mA or Modbus |
| Frame and bund | Skid with secondary containment | Bund volume ≥ 110% of largest vessel |
What the site must provide
Power (usually 3-phase, 5–10 kW), compressed air at 6 bar, water for washing, drainage to a suitable effluent system, and a ventilated area — the diluent is a flammable hydrocarbon and must be treated accordingly. Floor loading and headroom matter more than buyers expect; a skid of this size needs roughly 4 × 2 m and 2.5 m height.
What drives the price
Material. PMMA is cheaper than PP with better visibility, but it is attacked by some organics and by fluoride; PP is more robust but opaque. Above 60 °C, check both.
Instrumentation. A pilot with pH/ORP/flow logging costs materially more than one with sight glasses and manual valves, and it is what makes the data usable for scale-up.
Stage count. Each additional stage adds a settler, a mixer, a pump and piping. Going from 3 to 5 stages can add 40% to the equipment cost.
What you get out of it
Stage efficiency, O/A sensitivity, dispersion band behaviour, crud tendency, and a loaded-strip liquor you can use to confirm the downstream EW or precipitation step. That data is the actual deliverable; the skid is the instrument.
Send your flow, O/A, stage requirement and liquor analysis, and we will quote this configuration with the instrumentation options priced separately.