Abstract: An apparatus and method for effecting liquid-liquid contact between an aqueous liquid medium and an organic liquid medium comprises a chamber for holding a body of each of the media having an agitator therein. One or both of the media are supplied to a mixing zone around the agitator. By means of the agitator a dispersion band is formed with a free space above and/or below it which is devoid of baffles. A layer of disengaged lighter medium forms above the dispersion band and a layer of disengaged heavier medium below it, at least one of these layers extending into the or a corresponding free space. Disengaged lighter and/or heavier medium is recovered from the corresponding layer thereof at the same rate that it is supplied to the mixing zone.

Abstract: A compact, multi-stage, co- or counter-current liquid-liquid extraction apparatus includes first and second mixer-settlers which share a common wall. Each of the first and second mixer-settlers comprises a mixing chamber having an agitator mounted therein, upper and lower settling chambers, and upper and lower baffles between the mixing chamber and the upper and lower settling chambers respectively. The liquid media to be contacted in each mixer-settler are supplied to the mixing chamber from which dispersion flows upwardly and downwardly into the upper and lower baffles. Disengaged lighter medium flows out from the upper settling chamber to the mixer-settler, over a weir whose length exceeds half the length of the common wall, while disengaged heavier medium flows out of the lower settling chamber of one mixer-settler to the corresponding mixing chamber of the next mixer-settler. In one form the disengaged heavier medium also overflows a corresponding outlet weir to pass on to the next mixer-settler.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for stripping uranium values from a uranium-loaded organic extractant phase containing, usually, a tertiary amine capable of forming organic-soluble uranium complexes. The sulphate-containing aqueous strip liquor is fed in co-current with the extractant phase to be stripped through a number of mixing stages in series connected one to another without intermediate settling stages and finally to a final settling stage. A "primary" dispersion is maintained in each mixing stage and controlled stepwise pH adjustment of the mixing stages is effected by metered addition of a base, such as ammonia.