Extraction and mass transfer of glyoxylic acid in a capillary microchannel

Abstract

A solvent extraction system for extracting glyoxylic acid from aqueous solutions by using trioctylamine in n-octanol in a microchannel is developed, operating in the slug flow regime. The extraction system is composed of two preheating capillary loops, a T-junction micromixer, and a capillary microchannel. The influences of the volume ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase (O/A ratio), temperature, concentration of trioctylamine, total flow rate, and residence time on extraction and mass transfer are systematically investigated. A relationship between the total volumetric mass transfer coefficient and the capillary number, Reynolds number, capillary diameter and length is proposed. This study holds significant implications for the efficient extraction of glyoxylic acid in microchannels.