The present invention relates to an extraction column 1 having a vertically aligned column body 2 which is cylindrical at least in sections and forms a column cavity 3 having a horizontal maximum extent, with provision in the column body 2 of at least one first feed 4 for an extractant, at least one second feed 5 for the fluid to be extracted and at least one outlet 6 for the extract mixture and at least one outlet for the raffinate. In the inventive extraction column 1, a vertically aligned divider 7 arranged within the column cavity 3 subdivides the column cavity 3 into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions, the horizontal maximum extent of each region being less than the horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity 3. The invention further relates to a process for extracting a constituent from a fluid by means of such an extraction column 1.

A colander for selectively opening and closing a bottom frame is provided. The colander includes an outer shell having a screen with an upper rim forming an open top, and a bottom frame. A circular inner screen is disposed on the bottom frame, wherein the inner screen is rotatable via a pivot pin. The colander further includes an annular base rotatably coupled to the bottom frame to provide an open and closed configuration for the inner screen. The colander bottom frame can be opened and closed to remove food and the like therefrom.

A method for producing a modified polymer or a hydrogenated product thereof, includes polymerizing a monomer in a polymerization solvent which includes a hydrocarbon-based solvent, using a polymerization initiator to obtain a reaction solution. A functional group is introduced into the modified polymer or the hydrogenated product thereof, using a compound having the functional group protected with a silyl group. The reaction solution is separated into a solvent fraction including the hydrocarbon-based solvent, and a solid fraction including the modified polymer or the hydrogenated product thereof. The solvent fraction separated from the reaction solution is distilled to obtain a low-boiling fraction including the hydrocarbon-based solvent and a silanol compound. At least part of the silanol compound is removed from the low-boiling fraction by liquid-liquid extraction. At least part of a raffinate of the low-boiling fraction is recycled as a polymerization solvent.

A liquid-liquid extraction system includes extraction stages, a pumping system, and a controller. Each extraction stage has a chamber, a primary input, a raffinate output, and an extract output. An input liquid (e.g., either a source liquid or raffinate from a preceding extraction stage, mixed with an extraction liquid) is presented to the chamber via the primary input. The chamber enables phase separation of liquid therein, into a raffinate and a extract, where the raffinate exits the separation vessel at the raffinate output, and the extract exits the separation vessel at the extract output. A level sensor is coupled to the chamber and the controller is operatively programmed to read an output of the level sensor, compare the output of the level sensor to a target, and cause the associated chamber to receive additional liquid if the output is lower than the target.

A liquid-liquid-solid extraction process is disclosed for isolating natural products from a feedstock stream containing a biomass in an aqueous salt solution. The process includes forming a dispersion by contacting the feedstock stream with an extraction solvent in an extraction zone; passing the dispersion to a separation zone; separating the dispersion into multiple layers at a temperature of about 90 C. or less, the layers including: a solvent extract layer, a raffinate layer and a rag layer, and isolating at least part of the solvent extract layer, at least part of the raffinate layer and/or at least part of the rag layer.

The invention concerns a method for purifying a hydroalcoholic feedstock, comprising: a) a step of counter-current liquid-liquid extraction, comprising an extraction section supplied at the top with said hydroalcoholic feedstock and at least one intermediate raffinate fraction from step b) and at the bottom with an extraction solvent, and producing at the top an extraction stream and at the bottom a raffinate, wherein the extraction section is operated at a mean temperature in the extractor of between 10 and 40 C.; b) a counter-current liquid-liquid back-extraction comprising a back-extraction section supplied at the top with an acidic aqueous solution, having a pH between 0.5 and 5.0, and at the bottom with the extraction stream from step a), and producing at the top an extract and at the bottom the intermediate raffinate, wherein the back-extraction section is operated at a mean temperature between 40 and 80 C.