Rotary Disc Extraction Column (RDC)

Product Overview Of Rotary Disc Extraction Column

The Rotary Disc Extraction Column (RDC) is a proven, high-performance continuous liquid–liquid extraction equipment, widely used in large-scale industrial separation and purification processes.

The rotating disk extraction tower is a mechanical stirring extraction tower, referred to as RDC. Its mixing unit is composed of a moving ring and a static ring. Like other extraction towers, the light phase and the heavy phase enter the turntable from the bottom and top of the tower respectively during operation. The two phases in the extraction tower are in counter-current contact. Under the action of the turntable, the dispersed phase forms small droplets, which increases the mass transfer area between the two phases. The light phase and heavy phase that complete the extraction process flow out from the top and bottom of the tower respectively.
RDC can be used in all liquid-liquid extraction processes, especially processes where the two phases must flow countercurrently or cocurrently. The leaves in the system may contain a small amount of suspended solids. In principle, RDC can also be used for stepwise chemical reactions with or without mass transfer.

By means of rotating discs installed along a vertical column, the RDC generates controlled turbulence and fine droplet dispersion between two immiscible liquid phases, significantly increasing interfacial area and mass transfer efficiency. The result is stable operation, high separation efficiency, and low solvent loss, making the RDC an ideal choice for hydrometallurgy and lithium battery material production.

Working Principle Of Rotary Disc Extraction Column

Inside the column, a series of rotating discs are mounted on a central shaft, alternating with stationary stators. As the discs rotate:

• One liquid phase is dispersed into fine droplets within the other phase
• Intense but controllable mixing enhances mass transfer
• Counter-current or co-current flow enables multi-stage extraction in a single column

Extraction efficiency can be precisely adjusted by rotational speed, phase flow rates, and liquid level control.
 

• Vertical column structure, space-saving layout

• Multi-stage rotating discs and fixed stators

• Adjustable rotation speed for different extraction systems

• Flexible flow patterns: counter-current, co-current, multi-stage extraction

• Material options: carbon steel, stainless steel, rubber-lined, FRP, titanium

• Easily integrated with stripping, scrubbing, and washing circuits

Technical Parameters Of Lab Rotary Disc Extraction Column
 

Model	RDC-50	RDC-100	RDC-150	RDC-200	RDC-300	RDC-500
Inner diameter of the tower (mm)	50	100	150	200	300	500
Height of the tower (mm)	500	700	1500	1800	2000	3000

Remarks
1. Tower diameter and tower height can be customized according to needs;
2. Commonly used materials include PMMA, transparent PVC, borosilicate glass, stainless steel, PP, PPH, etc.
3. Industrial scale can be customized.
Application Fields Of Rotary Disc Extraction Column

1. Lubricants are exquisite;
2. Extraction of vitamins, glycosides, and alkaloids;
3. Vanillin Extract;
4. Organic acid extraction;
5. Extraction of phenol from phenol-containing wastewater;
6. Extraction of copper, rare earths, nickel cobalt and uranium.

• Copper, nickel, cobalt extraction and purification
• Lithium brine and leach liquor purification

• Rare earth element separation

• Specialty metal extraction

• Handles large aqueous flow rates with stable phase separation

• Excellent performance in acidic and high-salt systems

• Reduced solvent inventory compared to mixer settlers

• Suitable for SX–EW and SX–stripping integrated processes

• Lithium purification and impurity removal

• Cobalt / nickel separation in battery-grade solutions

• Recovery of valuable metals from spent batteries

• Solvent extraction in precursor and intermediate processing

• Key Benefits for Lithium Battery Materials:

• High selectivity and consistent product quality

• Reduced solvent loss, lower operating cost

• Compact equipment ideal for modern battery plants
• Compatible with continuous, automated production lines