Provided is a method of inhibiting degradation of an extractant by an anhydrous environment avoiding and metal stripping, the method including the steps of: (a) stopping the addition of soda ash (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3) to an extracting reaction tank; (b) starting solution recirculation and stopping solvent recirculation of a settler; (c) supplying a solvent from a loaded organic tank to a scrubbing reaction tank, in which the scrubbing reaction tank, stripping reaction tank and extracting reaction tank are connected for circulation and operating stirrers of the scrubbing reaction tank, stripping reaction tank and extracting reaction tank; (d) supplying a sulfuric acid solution having a controlled concentration with a diluting solution to the stripping reaction tank; (e) transferring the solvents of the settler, the loaded organic tank and all the pipes to the scrubbing reaction tank; and (f) stopping the step (e) and initiating solvent recirculation.

Centrifugal contactors that can be used for mixing or separating materials are described. The contactors include a sensing system including a communications fiber within the shaft of the contactors and access ports providing access from the communications fiber to the mixing/separating zone of the contactor. The sensing system can be utilized during operation of the contactor and can provide for detailed and accurate on-line characterization of a protocol, as well as process control and system modification as necessary during operation.

A cavitation mixing apparatus is provided for performing separations from solid material using subcritical liquid CO.sub.2. A cavitation inducing device inside a cavitation mixing vessel is held in place with a cavitation mixer mount comprising at least one fluid channel for equalizing gaseous pressure of CO.sub.2 around the cavitation inducing device. Also described is method of separating oils from a crude plant oil mixture by injecting crude plant oil into a pressurized mixing vessel comprising liquid carbon dioxide and mixing the crude oil with the liquid carbon dioxide under pressure using powered induced cavitation, the cavitation mixing vessel comprising an encapsulated cavitation inducing device.

Provided is a method for purifying organic acids, comprising: a first extraction, comprising separating an aqueous solution of organic acids into a first organic layer and a first aqueous solution layer by adding a solvent containing an amine and an alcohol; removing the alcohol from the separated first organic layer; and a second extraction, comprising separating the first organic layer from which the alcohol has been removed into a second organic layer and a second aqueous solution layer by adding water.

A method for continuous exchange of material includes countercurrent contacting of a first fluid phase and a second fluid phase that are not completely miscible. The contacting is carried out in a single centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) apparatus into which only the first and second fluid phases introduced. The apparatus includes a plurality of cells, each with a stationary phase immobilized and a mobile phase passing through the stationary phase. The following steps are carried out successively: a) the mobile phase is formed by the first fluid phase, and the stationary phase immobilized in the cells is formed by the second fluid phase; b) the mobile phase is formed by the second fluid phase, and the stationary phase immobilized in the cells is formed by the first fluid phase; c) repetition of the succession of steps a) and b) each step being carried out immediately after the preceding step.

An apparatus and method for extraction of oils from botanical material using high-pressure hydrocarbons such as propane, or butane, or mixtures thereof are described. A high-pressure propane or butane saturated liquid/vapor mixture formed by pressure reduction through a valve placed before an extraction column, thereby serving as an expansion port was employed. The apparatus is capable of both continuous liquid extraction or batch-style liquid operation through the use of a manifold valve, which directs the solvent liquid/vapor in the system to either a supply tank or an extraction column.

Provided is a method for purifying organic acids, including: a first extraction which includes separating an aqueous solution of organic acids into a first organic layer and a first aqueous solution layer by adding a solvent containing an amine and an alcohol; removing the alcohol from the separated first organic layer; and a second extraction which includes separating the first organic layer from which the alcohol has been removed into a second organic layer and a second aqueous solution layer by adding water.

A substrate processing apparatus includes a supercritical fluid producing apparatus including a pump configured to send out a processing fluid; a processing container configured to perform a supercritical fluid processing on a substrate with a processing fluid in a supercritical state sent from the supercritical fluid producing apparatus; and a controller configured to control at least the supercritical fluid producing apparatus. When a pressure increase is performed within the processing container by using the processing fluid, the controller determines a first supply rate at which the processing fluid is supplied to the processing container based on a target time during which the pressure increase is performed, an amount of the processing fluid required for the pressure increase and a density of the processing fluid. Further, the supercritical fluid producing apparatus supplies the processing fluid to the processing container based on the first supply rate.

The interaction system includes: an interaction unit internally including a process flow path that allows a first fluid and a second fluid to flow through the process flow path so as to come into contact and interact with each other; a separation container connected to an outlet of the process flow path so as to receive a mixed fluid of the first fluid and the second fluid discharged from the outlet of the process flow path to retain the received mixed fluid to separate the mixed fluid into the first fluid and the second fluid; a first fluid supply device configured to supply the first fluid to an inlet of the process flow path; a second fluid path connecting a region, where the separated second fluid is accumulated, of the separation container and the inlet of the process flow path so as to guide the second fluid separated in the separation container to the inlet of the process flow path; and a second fluid feed pump provided on the second fluid path to send the second fluid separated in the separation container from the separation container to the inlet of the process flow path.

The present disclosure relates, according to disclosed embodiments, to a system for extracting an organic compound from a natural source, the system comprising a computer processor operational to control the system; a storage vessel configured to store an extraction gas, the storage vessel comprising a storage vessel outlet in electrical communication with the computer processor; a valve in electrical communication with the computer processor, the valve comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet, wherein the valve inlet connects to the storage vessel outlet; a dynamic extraction vessel; and a spray evaporation loop system configured to receive a solute from the dynamic extraction vessel, the spray evaporation loop system comprising an injection nozzle in electrical communication with the computer processor, the injection nozzle comprising an injection nozzle inlet connected to the first dynamic extraction vessel outlet; and a cyclonic separator in electrical communication with the computer processor.