Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for use in carrying out liquid-liquid extractions, comprising a column defining an elongated contacting area, a first set of a plurality of elongated loosely packed fibrous strands of yarn comprising natural or synthetic fibers capable of sorbing a solvent and containing a plurality of capillaries or interstitial spaces capable of sorbing a solvent, longitudinally arranged in said column, a first separation zone, means for feeding a first solvent, including a component to be extracted, into said column and causing first solvent to flow through said column through said plurality of elongated fibrous strands a portion of which is sorbed in said capillaries or interstitial spaces, and the remainder of which flows into said separation zone, means for feeding a second solvent which is at least partially immiscible with said first solvent into said separation zone and through annular spaces of said plurality of elongated fibrous strands, thereby causing said solvents to contact each other and the extractable components to be removed from the first solvent into the second solvent, and means for recovering said first and second solvents.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus for use in carrying out liquid-liquid extractions, comprising a column defining an elongated contacting area, a first set of a plurality of elongated loosely packed fibrous strands of yarn comprising natural or synthetic fibers capable of sorbing a solvent and containing a plurality of capillaries or interstitial spaces capable of sorbing a solvent, longitudinally arranged in said column, a first separation zone, means for feeding a first solvent, including a component to be extracted, into said column and causing first solvent to flow through said column through said plurality of elongated fibrous strands a portion of which is sorbed in said capillaries or interstitial spaces, and the remainder of which flows into said separation zone, means for feeding a second solvent which is at least partially immiscible with said first solvent into said separation zone and through annular spaces of said plurality of elongated fibrous strands, thereby causing said solvents to contact each other and the extractable components to be removed from the first solvent into the second solvent, and means for recovering said first and second solvents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for feeding a second solvent is disposed so as to feed said second solvent countercurrently to and in contact with said first solvent as said solvents pass through and around said plurality of elongated fibrous strands.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said column is vertically disposed and said means for feeding said first solvent is disposed above said plurality of fibrous strands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for feeding second solvent includes means for introducing said second solvent below said plurality of elongated fibrous strands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including in addition conduit means extending into said first separation zone a second set of a plurality of elongated fibrous strands carried by said conduit means having first and second end portions, said first end portion being in communication with said first separation zone, a second separation zone in communication with said second end portion of said second set of plurality of elongated fibrous strands, said means for feeding said second solvent being in communication with said second separation zone, and further including means for feeding a mixture of first solvent which contains at least two extractable components to be separated into said first and second solvents, into said first separation zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said strands of said plurality of elongated fibrous strands have an average outside diameter of from about 0.5 to about 6mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said fibrous strands are employed in an amount of from about 6 to about 50 strands per cm 2 of cross-sectional area of the column.