Patent Number: 050229737
Section: claims

1. A method of electrostatically enhanced solvent extraction in which a dispersed phase interacts with a continuous liquid phase flowing through a column in counter-current relationship, wherein the improvement comprises, locating interacting means in the column so as to catch the dispersed phase flowing in the column and so as to define a space at a side of the interacting means between the side and the side of the column and through which space the continuous phase flows, and providing an electric field to cause the discharge of charged droplets of the dispersed phase sideways from the interacting means through the space toward the side of the column. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispersed phase passes through a plurality of said interacting means and electric fields. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein alternate said electric fields are of opposite polarity. 4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein all said electric fields are of the same polarity. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the droplets are discharged in a direction substantially normal to the general direction of flow of the dispersed phase. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric field is at least 1.5 kv/cm. 7. Apparatus for electrostatically enhanced solvent extraction comprising a column in which a continuous phase is arranged to flow therethrough in counter-current relationship with a dispersed phase, wherein the improvement comprises, means for catching a dispersed phase flowing through the column and for interacting the dispersed phase with the continuous phase, the interacting means being located in the column to define a space at a side thereof between the side and the side of the column and through which space the continuous phase is arranged to flow, and means for providing an electric field to cause the discharge of charged droplets of the dispersed phase sideways from the interacting means through the space towards the side of the column. 8. Apparatus for electrostatically enhanced solvent extraction, the apparatus comprising a column for the counter-current flow of a continuous phase and a dispersed phase therethrough, one or a plurality of inlets for the introduction of the dispersed phase into the column to contact the continuous phase, at least one receptacle at an intermediate location in the column for catching the dispersed phase flowing through the column, the receptacle having side walls, an open top, and a closed base, the receptacle being located to define a space at the side thereof between the side of the receptacle and the column and through which space the continuous phase is arranged to flow, the receptacle having a plurality of discharge ports extending through the side walls and arranged to discharge the dispersed phase through the side walls and through the space towards the side of the column, and means for applying an electric potential to the receptacle to cause the discharge of charged droplets of the dispersed phase through the discharge ports. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the space defined is substantially annular. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base of the receptacle is inwardly dished. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein a collector is disposed below the receptacle, the collector having radially disposed riser ports for the upward flow of the continuous phase therethrough, and a central outlet for the downward flow of dispersed phase therethrough. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the collector has a side wall that extends to at least the same height in the column as the discharge ports, and the electric potential is between the discharge ports and the side wall. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the base of the collector is of frusto-conical form to bias the flow of the dispersed phase towards the central outlet, and bias the flow of the continuous phase towards the ports. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein a plurality of receptacles and collectors are located in series in the cell. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electrical potential means is arranged to apply opposite polarity electric potentials to alternate receptacles. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electrical potential means is arranged to apply the same polarity electric potential to all the receptacles. 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electric potential means is adapted to apply at least 1.5 kv/cm.