Solvent extraction is an important chemical separation technology which is widely used in hydrometallurgy
nuclear chemical industries
petrochemical industries and etc.Extraction columns have many advantages
but are very difficult to scale-up and design.The study on mathematic modeling and scale-up of extraction columns in abroad is reviewed
and then the research
innovation and application of extraction columns in China are detailed in this paper.The systematical studies on two-phase hydrodynamics
back mixing and mass transfer of pulsed sieve plate extraction column by Wang and his co-workers are introduced in some detail since its importance for nuclear industries.The approaches developed by Wang to scale-up extraction columns by the first principle are essential.The performance of new developed coalescence-dispersion pulsed sieve plate extraction column is excellent and has been used in industry.The studies on RDC
packed extraction column and pulsed packed extraction column are described too.The innovations on NRDC
SMR and PFMR have great importance since their excellent performance and wide application.