Abstract:
A continuous extraction apparatus and a continuous extraction process for extracting an extractable component of a liquid or particulate feed material with an immiscible liquid solvent for the extractable component thereof, which apparatus and process are both especially useful for extracting glycerine from soap, utilize an extraction column with oscillatably movable contact promoting means therein which move in a horizontal plane and have openings therein through which the immiscible feed and the extracting liquid, in different phases, may pass during oscillations, at which time the contact promoting means make repeated contacts with the different phases to renew contact surfaces of the liquids and to bring them into intimate contact with each other, whereby extraction of extractable material from the feed by the extracting liquid is promoted. A plurality of spaced vertical screens positioned substantially radially from the axis of a cylindrical extraction column constitute preferred contact promoting means which oscillate rotationally and horizontally and thereby help to improve extraction column efficiency while preventing or minimizing axial mixing. Instead of the screens a woven or knitted screening, mesh or fabric of filamentary material, having openings therein, may be used and may be wrapped around or otherwise suitably held to a central vertical shaft which is rotationally oscillatable horizontally in the extraction column.