Potential Use of Pulsed Electric Field and Magnetite Nanoparticles for Mass Transfer Enhancement of Single Drops

The simultaneous effect of pulsed electric field and magnetite nanoparticles on the liquid–liquid extraction of circulating drops was studied. Low voltage pulsed electric fields, corresponding to field strengths of 2 - 16 V/cm and controllable frequencies of 100-1000 Hz were examined for mass transfer intensification. The recommended chemical system of kerosene–acetic acid–water was used in which mass transfer resistance lies mainly in the kerosene phase. Magnetite nanoparticles, within the concentration range of (0.0003 - 0.0030) wt%, were added to the organic phase. In the hydrodynamic study, different criteria confirmed the circulating state of drops and the terminal velocity precisely followed the Grace model. It was while, in the mass transfer study, the pulsed electric field capability in intensification of nanoparticles action was found with the maximum enhancement of 217% in the overall mass transfer coefficient. The current innovative investigation highlights the fact that using pulsed electric field is a promising way to develop mass transfer in the presence or in the absence of nanoparticles.