Tenova Advanced Technologies (TAT) offers differentiated, project-specific process technologies based on decades of research, equipment design and project execution. Advanced solutions include solvent extraction (SX) and electrowinning (EW) for the mining and chemical industries, membrane circuits, in-house state-of-the-art R&D facilities, expertise in minerals beneficiation as well as phosphate processing from ore to purified phosphoric acid and salts.
Tenova Pulsed Column (TPC)
Pulsed Column technology was developed in the 1950’s and has been successfully applied to a range of industries over the last 30 years. Early designs were based upon packed beds or sieve trays which exhibited poor phase dispersion and were prone to fouling. The Tenova Pulsed Column (TPC) was developed to overcome the problems associated with mixer-settlers and other continuous contact columns.
The TPC consists of a large diameter vessel filled alternatively with "disc and doughnut" baffles which facilitate contact between the immiscible liquids as they pass counter-currently through the column.
The heavy (aqueous) phase enters through a disperser at the top of the column and the light (organic solvent) phase enters through a similar device near the bottom. A decanter at each end of the column permits the liquids to coalesce and be decanted separately. When the solvent phase is continuous the interface between the phases is in the lower decanter and when the aqueous phase is continuous, it is in the upper decanter.
The columns are pulsed by blowing air at the required amplitude and frequency of the pulses which are controlled using four way solenoid valves.
The Tenova Pulsed Column is a high efficiency cost-effective contactor which enhances mass transfer during extraction, stripping and scrubbing or washing processes.
TPC Advantages:
Extraction is a multi-stage continuous process in a single vessel
Handles liquids with suspended solids or which form a third phase
Safe and environmentally friendly process
No internal moving parts
Fully automated system
Low maintenance and operating costs
Dramatically reduces floor space required
Solvent loss and fire risk easily mitigated by inert blanketing of head-space
Suitable for emulsifying systems
Nozzle arrangement allows interchangeability between organic and aqueous continuity
Applications of TPC:
Minerals processing: uranium, nickel, cobalt, zinc, titanium, lithium, zirconium
Chemical industry: nitric, phosphoric and hydrochloric acid
Environmental protection: recovery of nitrates, sulfuric acid, cyanides, and halides
Additional applications include pharmaceutical, food and petroleum industries
Tenova Settler
Tenova Advanced Technologies experience with designing, installing and commissioning SX plants using the TENOVA SETTLER™, enables it to supply the SX-EW and Tank Farm sections of a hydrometallurgical plant on a LSTK basis, providing the client with full process and mechanical guarantees.
The TENOVA SETTLER™ is a patented technology which enhances efficiency and provides many advantages compared to other settlers used in SX circuits.
Higher process efficiency
Lower capital cost (approx. 20% reduction)
More compact layout
Shorter construction time
Total automatic control capability
Higher flux rate
Lower organic losses
Operator friendly physical layout
Ease of operation and maintenance
Improved fire prevention and control features
The TENOVA SETTLER™ has a channel running along one side of its length (the “feed launder”), through which the dispersion flowing from the mixing tanks enters the settler via a set of Turning Vanes which distribute the flow along the width of the settler and enhance phase coalescence. The turning vanes direct the flow through two sets of picket fences specially designed to increase the dispersed phase coalescence and to regulate the flow pattern across the width of the settler. The two phases separate in the quiescent settling area. At the discharge end of the settler the organic phase is collected in the Organic Overflow Launder and the aqueous phase in the Submerged Aqueous Discharge. This Reverse Flow configuration allows all the mixer tanks to be placed at the same side of the Plant, compared to the complicated layout of conventional settlers in which the mixer tanks are located alternatively on opposite sides of a train of settlers.
Tenova Turbulent Technologies Mixing System
Tenova Turbulent Technologies Mixing System is a new mixing technology which enables significant reduction of entrainment levels without changing the process flow. It can easily be retro-fitted to most existing mixer settlers or installed in new SX plants.
Unique capabilities:
Creates uniform dispersion in the mixing tank (avoiding formation of small droplets)
Predictable and controlled drop size distribution as a function of the mixing regime, allowing process optimization
Advantages:
Reduces entrainment of expensive extractants
Reduces organic contamination in the product stream
Reduces ecological impact of organics in the raffinate stream
Enables increase of settling flux (flow per unit settler area) while maintaining same level of entrainment
Reduces maintenance costs
Eliminates the need for after-settlers
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