Abstract: A process for contacting two counterflowing immiscible liquid phases in a column in which perforated plates define mixing zones and separating zones and in which each mixing zone receives a heavy-liquid phase entering through perforations from above and a light-liquid phase entering through perforations from below and a dispersion formed by the two liquid phases in each mixing zone is transferred from the latter into a juxtaposed separating zone from which the heavy-liquid phase is withdrawn downwardly through perforations and the light-liquid phase is withdrawn upwardly through perforations. The dispersion is contacted in the separating zones with a filling of a material which accelerates coalescence.

Abstract: A process for liquid-liquid counterflow extraction based on the mixer-separator principle is disclosed. A dispersion of two liquid phases is fed to a separator and the clear phases are withdrawn therefrom. The dispersions to be separated are fed to the separator in two partial steams equal in rate of flow and flow through the separator in mutually opposite directions along respective paths each having a length equal to one-half of the diameter of the separator. Apparatus for carrying out the process includes inlets for the dispersion to be separated positioned at two opposite points of the periphery of the separator and outlets for the separated clear phases lying on the intervening diametral chord. The outlets and inlets can be reversed.