University of Bahrain

College of Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering

CHENG 425: Chemical Engineering Laboratory II

Experiment 1:
Extraction of CuSO4 from sand/CuSO4
mixture using solvent (water)

Experiment Date: 26/9/2016

Submitted On: 10/10/2016

Name
Mohammad Abdulla Rustom
Fawaz Hussain Alhamry
Khaled Mohammed Saif
Hani Saad Al-qashar

I.D
20123943
2011747
20120276
20123940

Submitted to: Dr. Zakir M. S. Hossain

Semester I 2016-2017

Experiment#1:

Name

Part Assigned

Percenta
ge %

Fawaz Husain
Alhamry

Procedure and apparatus,

Safety and environment,
Recommendations.

25%

Hani Saad Alqashar

Introduction and background,

Industrial applications,
Nomenclature.

Khaled
Mohammed
Saif

Abstract, Theory, Conclusion.

Mohammed
Abdulla
Rostum

Results, Discussion, Sample

calculation.

25%

25%

25%

Signatu
re

Abstract
Leaching is a process where solid-liquid separation occurs. So this
experiment aims to extract Copper Sulfate from sand/ Copper
Sulfate mixture by using water as a solvent. The experiment
objective is achieved by first mixing the solute (Copper Sulfate
CuSO 4 ) with the sand and introducing them to the single step
extractor, Then the liquid solvent will be introduced to the extractor
for the separation to take place. The single stem extractor is a
vessel that has a membrane where the mixture is placed on. This
vessel is connected to a heater and condenser in order to remove
the impurities from the solvent (water) before processing it. Then,
samples are going to be taken every 20 minutes and fit them to the
standard cure (Beer's law) in order to measure their concentrations.
Moreover, the standard cure will be obtained using the UV
spectroscopy, where the absorbances of known samples are going
to be measured and related to their concentrations. The known
samples were prepared by the students and they are 20, 15, 10, 5,
2.5, 1.25 g/L. worth mentioning, the standard curve has coefficient
determination (R) of 0.9865, which indicates a linear relationship
between the absorbance and the concentration. The observed
results were expected, the mass of extracted solute

(CuSO 4)

was

increasing as the time increases, and the extract molarity was

reducing as the time passes. However, the extraction rate was
decreasing. On the other hand, both the extraction factor and
fraction were increasing with the progressing of time.

Table of contents
1. Introduction and background.......................................................................1
2. Theory.......................................................................................................... 3
2.1. Definitions of the extraction processes..................................................3
2.2. Types of extractors................................................................................. 3
2.3. Solid liquid extraction (Leaching process)...........................................3
2.4. Special aspects for the extractors..........................................................4
2.5. Selection of the solvent..........................................................................4
2.6. Solid liquid extraction (Leaching) Principles...........................................4
3. Industrial applications..................................................................................7
3.1. Gold carbon in leach process.................................................................7
3.2. Extraction of caffeine from tea leaves...................................................7
3.3. Extraction process of sugar beets..........................................................8
4. Apparatus and procedure.............................................................................9
4.1. Apparatus.............................................................................................. 9
4.2. Procedure............................................................................................. 10
5. Safety and environment.............................................................................11
6. Results....................................................................................................... 14
7. Discussion.................................................................................................. 17
8. Conclusions................................................................................................ 18
9. Recommendations...................................................................................... 19
9.1. Improvement of the lab........................................................................19
9.2. Correction of errors.............................................................................. 19
10. References............................................................................................... 20
11. Appendices............................................................................................... 21
2

Appendix (A): Raw data..............................................................................21

Appendix (B): Sample calculations..............................................................23
Appendix (C): Nomenclature.......................................................................25

List of figu
Figure 1: golden ore ............................................................................... 1
Figure 2: Example for Beer's law .....................................................................5
Figure 3: The spectroscopy device ...............................................................5
Figure 4: The molecules transformation .................................................5
Figure 5: Extraction of caffeine from tea leaves ...........................................8
Figure 6: sugar beets ................................................................................... 8
Figure 7: Extraction apparatus.........................................................................9
Figure 8: Single step extractor.........................................................................9
Figure 9: Single extractor location....................................................................9
Figure 10: The mixture................................................................................... 10
Figure 11: UV spectroscopy............................................................................10
Figure 12: copper sulfate solution..................................................................10
Figure 13: Safety guidelines...........................................................................11
Figure 14: Fire Extinguisher............................................................................11
Figure 15: Fire blanket and first Aid kit...........................................................11
Figure 16: Eye wash fountain.........................................................................12
Figure 17: Emergency shower........................................................................12
Figure 18: Fume hood..................................................................................... 12
Figure 19: Fire exit door..................................................................................12
Figure 20: sewage.......................................................................................... 12
Figure 21: Chemical waste container..............................................................13
Figure 22: Gas cylinder................................................................................... 13
Figure 23: Standard curve (Beer's law), prepared using the data from the
spectrometer.................................................................................................. 14
Figure 24: Extraction rate of

CuSO 4

as the time increases........................16

Figure 25: molarity variation as the time changes.........................................16

Figure 26: UV spectroscopy results for the known samples...........................21
Figure 27: UV spectroscopy results for one of the unknown samples.............22
Y

List of tables
Table 1: observed absorbances for the prepared samples to perform the STD
curve.............................................................................................................. 14
Table 2: obtained absorbances for the known samples, and the calculated
concentrations using the STD curve...............................................................15
Table 3: presents useful quantities to analyze leaching.................................15

1. Introduction and background

Extraction process is an important separation techniques and it is
widely used for the separation both the organic and inorganic
mixtures. It also plays an important role in mines industries for
example extracting the gold from the ore as shown in figure 1 by using
an aqueous sodium cyanide solution. In early civilization, the mining
were used to extract the valuable and geological materials from the
ore under the earth. Moreover, different researches were developed to
understand and to discover different aspect could be used to
maximize the beneficial matters. Nowadays, different industrial
sectors are competing for applying extraction process especially for
waste treatment due to the increasing environmental limitations,
standards and regulations [1].

Figure 1: golden ore [1].

`
Extraction process is the process of extracting a substance (solute)
from a mixture of substances by using proper solvent based on the
solubility criteria. There are different types of extraction process such
as liquid-liquid extraction, solid-liquid extraction, liquid-gas extraction
and high pressure extraction. Liquid liquid extraction is the
extraction of a substance from one liquid to another liquid phase
1

based on their relative solubility [2]. Gas liquid extraction is the

extraction or absorbing of a gas by using liquid solvent. High pressure
extraction is an extraction process occurred at relatively high pressure
condition, also it usually uses densified gas as a solvent. Solid-liquid
extraction is the extraction of a solid by using liquid solvent and it`s
called leaching process [3].
The objectives of this experiment is to study the leaching process by
extracting a copper sulfate from a mixture (copper sulfate and sand)
by using liquid solvent (water). Also to calculate the percentage of the
solute recovery from the mixture, to determine the extraction rate,
extraction factors and fractions.
In this report, the historical part and different extraction processes
were illustrated and defined shortly to provide an overall idea about
the extraction process. The importance of this separation technique
was discussed to know the reasons of widely used in the industrial
field. The industrial applications were provided to enhance the
importance of the solid-liquid extraction (leaching process). The
apparatus, procedure and safety with the environment were discussed
to be familiar with the atmosphere of the experiment. Also, the graphs
and relations were obtained from results and they were discussed to
achieve the objectives of the experiment. The conclusion used for
summarizing

the

experiment.

Moreover,

recommendations

were

provided to improve some points that will help to have an excellent

performance.

2. Theory
In this part of the report, the theoretical aspects of the experiment will
be illustrated. Firstly, the extraction process could be defined as the
process that is used to separate one substance from another
substance. Moreover, there are different types of extraction processes
such as solid liquid extraction (leaching process), liquid liquid
extraction, gas liquid extraction (absorption) and high pressure
extraction [4].
2.1. Definitions of the extraction processes
Here are the definitions of these processes shortly. Liquid liquid
extraction is the extraction of a substance from one liquid to another
liquid phase based on their relative solubility [5]. Gas liquid
extraction is the extraction or absorbing of a gas by using liquid
solvent [4]. High pressure extraction is an extraction process occurred
at relatively high pressure condition, also it usually uses densified gas
as a solvent [6]. Solid-liquid extraction is the extraction of a solid by
using liquid solvent and it`s called leaching process [4].

2.2. Types of extractors

Different types of extractors could be used for the extraction purpose.
Such

as

Single

step

mixer,

mixer

settler

cascade,

centrifugal

extractors, columns without energy input, centrifugal extractors,

columns with rotating internals and columns with pulsation. In this
experiment, the single step mixer is used. Single step mixer could be
operated continuously or discontinuously and it`s one of the simplest
extractors. The desired solute will be mixed with the solvent and it
would be transferred from one phase to another phase inside the
mixer. Also, the separation takes place due to the gravity forces
through a membrane. Moreover, single step mixer efficiency could be
enhanced by increasing the number of steps, operating area or
reducing the apparatus height. Also the efficiency could be enhanced
by isolating the apparatus from the surrounding environment [7].
2.3. Solid liquid extraction (Leaching process)
Solid liquid extraction (Leaching process) is removing or extracting a
substance from a solid via liquid extraction media, where the desired
component diffuses into the liquid solvent from its natural solid form.
Moreover, leaching process consist of three main components. They
are a solid soluble solute (Copper Sulfate CuSO 4), Insoluble solute
(Sand) and liquid solvent (Water). Furthermore, raffinate means
residual material that present after an extraction occurred and majorly
it consist of undesired product (Sand) and minor amount of desired
product (Copper Sulfate CuSO4). Also, extract is the desired product
(Copper Sulfate CuSO4) and the solvent (water) [8].
2.4. Special aspects for the extractors
The following aspects should be provided by the extraction apparatus
in order to achieve higher extraction rate. First, the production of large
extract phase and that is achieved by producing fine droplets and
dispersing these droplets in the continuous phase. Then, providing a
4

high mass transfer while that is achieved by producing high velocities

between the two phases (the extract phase and the raffinate phase).
Next, no axial remixing and fast with complete phase separation after
extraction [7].
2.5. Selection of the solvent
Here are some point must be considered while selecting the solvent,
first, the selectivity, where the solvent must extract only the desired
product. Then, the capacity of the solvent should be high to reduce the
amount of used solvent. Next, miscibility of solvent should be low so
the regeneration will be easier. Also, the differences in density between
the solvent and the insoluble solute should be high because the two
phases (water and sand) will be separated. Moreover, optimal surface
tension should be low to reduce the amount of heat and energy
required for separation. Then, recovery of the solvent, it should be
separated easily from the desired product to regenerate the solvent
with free active agent. Also, the corrosivety, prices, toxicity of the
solvent should be as minimum as it could be. Adding to that, some of
the physical and chemical properties of the solvent should be
mentioned such as flame temperature, vapor pressure, viscosity and
chemical and thermal stability [9].
2.6. Solid liquid extraction (Leaching) Principles
The direct relationship between known concentrations versus its
absorbance called Beer`s law fig 2. After the generation of the
standardized graph between the known concentrations and it`s
correspond absorbance using the UV spectrophotometer, the unknown
concentration of specified species could be determined from the graph
by

taking

the

corresponding

concentration

of

the

measured

absorbance or by using the slope of the Beer`s law curve [10].

Figure 2: Example for Beer's

law [10].

UV spectroscopy (Absorption spectroscopy) is an apparatus uses light

in the visible ranges near ultraviolet (UV) and near infrared (IR) fig 3.
The absorption in the visible range is directly affects the perceived
color of the chemical involved. UV spectroscopy measures the electron
transition of atoms of molecules from ground state to the exited state
in the region of electromagnetic spectrum fig 4 [11].

Figure 3: The molecules

Figure 4: The spectroscopy
transformation [11].
device [11].

The mass of Copper Sulfate (CuSO4) in the extract is obtained by

utilizing the Beer`s law in order to find the Copper Sulfate (CuSO 4)
concentration in the extract. Then eqn (1) will be used.
m cuso 4 (extract )=C cuso 4 ( extract) V mixture (1)
The mass of Copper Sulfate (CuSO4) in the raffinate could be calculated
by subtracting the mass of Copper Sulfate (CuSO4) in the initial to the
mass of Copper Sulfate (CuSO4) in the extract:

m cuso 4 (raffinate )=m cuso 4 (initial)mcuso 4 (extract )(2)

Extraction factor is a factor to express the degree of extraction [8].
Also, it could be calculated by finding the ratio of the amount of solute
(Copper Sulfate CuSO4) in the extract to the amount of solute (Copper
Sulfate CuSO4) in raffinate:
=

mcuso 4 (extract)
m cuso 4 (initial)m cuso4 (extract )

(3)

Extraction fraction measures the degree of an overall extraction.

Moreover, it could be an important parameter to select a feasible
extractor [8]. Also, extraction fraction is the ratio of the amount of the
solute (CuSO4) in the extract to the amount of the solute (CuSO 4)
initially:
Extraction fraction=

mcuso 4 (extract)
(4 )
mcuso 4 (initial)

Percentage of recovery is the percentage of the overall recovering of

the solute (CuSO4) in the extract to the amount of the solute (CuSO 4) in
initial:
Percent of recovery=

m cuso 4(extract )
m cuso 4(initial )

100(5)

3. Industrial applications
Solid-liquid extraction is widely used in many applications such as
laboratory applications (sample preparation), industrial applications
(extraction

from

vegetable

matrices)

and

practical

applications

(cleaning). It is of fundamental importance, since the successful

outcome of the process depends on the extraction [12].
3.1. Gold carbon in leach process
Gold can be recover and extracted from its ore by using Gold CIL
process (Carbon in leach process) as shown in figure (1). Moreover, this
process uses an aqueous solution of sodium cyanide to dissolve the
gold within the solution, while the carbon is leached at high
temperature. Then, the solutions passes through electro winning cell
and the gold attached to the cathodes. Next, the gold is separated
physical process. Gold CIL process lowers the gold minig operations
cost and increase gold recovery rate to a degree of 99%. At has
become the first choice of modern gold minig and beneficiation plant
design [1].
3.2. Extraction of caffeine from tea leaves
The extraction percentage of 97% of the caffeine from tea leaves.
Caffeine is a stimulant found in tea, coffee and cola drinks. It
stimulates the brain and the central nervous system, so that a person
feels less tired and more alert. It is currently estimated that over 80%
of adults in the world regularly ingest caffeine, thus making it the
number one psychoactive drug in the world. The organic solvent
dichloromethane is used to extract caffeine from an aqueous extract of
tea leaves because caffeine is more soluble in dichloromethane than it
8

is in water. The dichloromethane - caffeine mixture can then be

separated on the basis of the different densities of dichloromethane
and water because dichloromethane is much denser than water and
insoluble in it. Residual water is separated from dichloromethane by
drain out the dichloromethane through separating funnel, thus
dichloromethane passed through the funnel while polar solvents such
as water is still remains in the funnel as illustrated in figure 5 [13].

Figure 5: Extraction of caffeine from tea leaves [13].

3.3. Extraction process of sugar beets

The extraction process of sugar from beets as shown in figure 6 begins
by slicing the beets into very thin chips. It increases the surface area of
the beet to make it easier to extract the sugar. The extraction takes
place in a diffuser where the beet is kept in direct contact with hot
water. Then, Diffusion process starts by which the color and smell of
the tea comes out of the tea leaves in a teapot but a typical diffuser
weighs many tons when full of beet and extraction water. The diffuser
is a big agitated tank in which the beets slices slowly work their way
9

from one end to the other and the water is moved in the opposite
direction and that called counter-current flow and as the water goes it
becomes a stronger sugar solution mostly called juice [14].

4. Apparatus and procedure

4.1. Apparatus

Figure 6: sugar beets [14].

First of all, a single step extractor where placed in the extraction unit
as elaborated in figure 9. Then, the control panel as shown in figure 7
is turned on to start heating the distilled water inside the round flask
which is placed in the heater as shown in figure 7. The water will
evaporate inside the round vessel and heated by boiler and pass
through the distillation column to reach the condenser as shown in
figure 7. Water vapor will condense after touching the running water
tubes through the condenser as shown in figure 7, then the saturated
vapor is going to be a saturated liquid. Finally, the saturated liquid will
fall down to the single step extraction vessel in form of drops because
of gravity as shown in figure 8. Distilled water will mix with the sand
and copper sulfate mixture inside the extractor vessel location. The
distilled water penetrates loaded with copper sulfate throw the filter in
order to extract the CuSO4 from sand.

10

Condenser
Condenser
Distillation column
Distillation column
Control panel
Control panel

Thermometer
Thermometer

Figure 8: Single step

extractor

Extractor vessel location

Extractor vessel location
Figure 9: Single extractor
location.

Figure Boiler
7: Extraction
Round vessel
apparatus.
Boiler

4.2. Procedure

Round vessel

First of all, 10 g of
copper sulfate are mixed with amount of sand, then placing them
inside a vessel extractor as elaborated in figure 10 which is going to be
placed in the extraction unit below the condenser. Then saturated
water will fall down inside the vessel to diffuse into the mixture of
copper sulfate and sand in order to be mixed with the solute which is
copper sulfate. After that, Solvent will go down through the filter
loaded with copper sulfate.
Every 20 minutes, a sample of solution was taken for four times to
observe and test the concentration change of the samples with the
time. Finally, analytically the copper sulfate solution is to be tested to
relate the concentration with absorbance using UV spectroscopy as
shown in figure 11. Six different concentrations (20, 15, 10, 5, 2.5,
11

1.25)g/L were prepared by adding certain amount of copper sulfate in a

flask and fill the rest of the flask with distilled water as shown in figure
12. These concentrations where taken to prepare different standard
samples to generate different curves as shown in the appendix.

Figure 10: The

mixture.

Figure 11: UV
spectroscopy

5. Safety and

Figure 12: copper sulfate

solution

environment

Safety and awareness become one of the important responsibilities in

any place that might cause a danger. Laboratory is a place that might
be a source of hazard, so it must be a safe place, and that could be
done by following the safety rules. Also, it has to be well equipped to
protect the technicians and students.
However, in the laboratory where the experiment have been done,
there were some good points regarding safety and protection. As
shown in figure 13 safety guideline must be provided in any laboratory,
also students or researchers have to follow the instruction carefully.
The laboratory was provided with several important safety facilities
such as fire extinguisher which is a necessary need in any laboratory, it
was fixed in a proper place as illustrated in figure 14. Also, as shown in
figure 15 first aid kit and fire blanket were provided and positioned
properly side by side.
12
Figure 13: Safety
guidelines.

Figure 14: Fire

Figure 15: Fire blanket
Figure 19: Rotameter reading at 3
Extinguisher.
and first Aid kit.

Other important point that is found in the laboratory is eye wash which
is a necessary tool while dealing with chemicals, it was fixed in a
proper place as shown in figure 16 and it is working properly. Also,
emergency shower was located side by side with the eye wash as
illustrated in figure 17.

Figure 16: Eye wash fountain.

Figure 17: Emergency

shower.

Figure 18: Fume

hood.

Moreover, figure 18 shows the fume hood which was provided in the
laboratory which is a very important thing to be exist in any chemical
laboratory in order to remove the toxic gases of chemicals
Fire exit door was located in a visible place and noticed to be a wide
enough but it does not open properly as shown in figure 19. Other
negative point that is noticed in the laboratory is the sewage area, it
was found that the electricity wires are so close to the water that is
kept running to the sewage as shown in figure 20.

13

Figure 20: sewage.

Figure 19: Fire exit

door.

Regarding chemicals in the laboratory, there was a waste container. It

was placed in a wrong manner as shown in figure 22. Moreover, it was
found to be covered with only gloves which is not safe at all which can
be considered as a source of hazard. Furthermore, figure 21 shows a
flammable gas cylinder which is a source of hazard and in case of fire it
might cause an explosion.

Figure 21: Chemical

waste container.

14

Figure 22: Gas

cylinder.

6. Results
The results for this experiment are divided into two parts, first
performing the standard curve, then the extraction process. The curve
was performed by having 6 samples of

CuSO 4

dissolved in water

each with a different concentration. Then the spectrometer was used in

order to give the absorbances of the known concentration samples at
808.5 mm wave length, App (A) shows the spectrometer results. Worth
mentioning, the spectrometer results are in g/L, but it was converted to
molarity using molecular weight, to have a linear standard curve.
Mass concentration
(g/L)
20
15
10
5
2.5
1.25

Molar concentration
(mol/L)
0.125
0.0940
0.0627
0.0313
0.0157
0.00783

15

Absorbance
1.318
0.81
0.472
0.25
0.135
0.05

Table 1: observed absorbances for the prepared samples to perform the STD
curve.

molar concentration mol/L Vs Absorbance (Standard curve)

0.14
f(x) = 0.1x + 0.01
R = 0.97

0.12
0.1
0.08

molar concentration mol/L

Linear (molar concentration mol/L)

0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

Figure 23: Standard curve (Beer's law), prepared using the data from the
spectrometer.

In addition, from the extraction process, samples were taken every 20

mins and the volume was recorded. The spectrometer also was used to
obtain the absorbances of the unknown samples, which are the
extract, at the same wave length of 808.5 mm. Knowing the
absorbances of the

CuSO 4

in the unknown samples allows us to

know the concentration using the standard curve. Moreover, the

extracted mass at a certain time was calculated, and table 2 presents
the results.
Time (min)

Volume
(mL)

Absorbanc
e

Molarity
(mol/L)

20
40
60
80

205
365
395
490

0.234
0.076
0.01
0.009

0.028
0.0094
0.00895
0.0087

Mass
concentration
(g/L)
5
1.5
1.42
1.39

Table 2: obtained absorbances for the known samples, and the calculated
concentrations using the STD curve.
16

Moreover, to better understand the extraction concept, different

quantities were calculated using eqons (3), (4), (5). Such as, extraction
factor, extraction fraction, percentage recovery and extraction rate,
table 3.
Time
(min)

Extractio
n factor

Extractio
n fraction

20
40
60
80

0.114
0.187
0.271
0.392

0.103
0.157
0.213
0.281

Extractio
n rate
(g/min)
0.0513
0.0393
0.0356
0.0352

%
Recovery
10.3
15.7
21.3
28.1

Table 3: presents useful quantities to analyze leaching.

CuSO 4

Figure 24 presents the amount of

extraction rate as the time

increases, while figure 25 presents the molar concentration of

as a function of time.
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
10

20

30

40

50

Figure 24: Extraction rate of

60

70

80

90

CuSO 4 as the time increases.

17

CuSO 4

Molar concentration (mol/L) Vs Time(min)

0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0
10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Figure 25: molarity variation as the time changes.

7. Discussion

In this part of the report, the results and the calculations will be
discussed for further understanding the leaching process. Table 1
shows

the

concentrations

of

the

prepared

samples

and

the

absorbances that were found from the UV spectrophotometry. Then

from table 1 the standard curve (beer's law) were constructed fig 23. It
was observed that as the molarity increases the absorbance increases,
which are proved by Beer's law (10). Worth mentioning, the
absorbances of the sample were taken at 808.5 mm wavelength, which
is the wavelength that gives the highest peak for the 20 g/L sample.
Furthermore, figure 23 was used to obtain the concentrations of the
samples that were collected from the single step extractor. And the
results

were

tabulated

in

table

2.

The

observed

coefficient

determination (R) is 0.9865, and the closeness of R to 1, indicates that

18

the observed values fit for linear relation between the absorbance and
the concentration.
Table 3 represents the extraction factor, fraction, recovery and the
extraction rate. Both the extraction factor and fraction were increasing,
which obvious, since as the solvent amount is increasing, more
CuSO 4

will be extracted. On the other hand, the extraction rate is

reducing, because the extracted

CuSO 4

amount is reducing as the

time passes, so the rate at the beginning was high because the extract
amount is high, while then the extract reduces which reduces the rate.
Finally, the recovery is increasing which expected because as the time
passes more

CuSO 4

is extracted. But the thing which is not expected

is that the final recovery that was achieved is 28.1%, which is too low.
That is because the 80 minutes were not enough for having better
recovery of

CuSO 4 .

The extraction rate was calculated and plotted with time in figure 24,
which indicates that as the separation is processing, the extraction rate
is decreased. That is expected since the driving force is decreasing,
which is the concentration gradient. Moreover, figure 25 shows the
decrease in the concentration of the

CuSO 4

in the raffinate.

8. Conclusions
To conclude, the experiment objectives were achieved. Many relations
were found during analyzing and discussing the results. The extraction
of the solute (Copper sulfate) is inversely proportional to the time of
19

extraction process. Moreover, Beer`s law curve played an important

role for finding the unknown concentration of the extract solute
(Copper Sulfate), which was obtained using the UV spectroscopy. The
Beer's law was obtained by preparing six samples of known
concentrations and the UV spectroscopy gives the relation between the
absorbance and the concentration. The observed curve was fitted to a
linear relation between the absorbance and molarity due to the
closeness of coefficient determination (R) to one. The extraction rate is
inversely to the time of extraction process, while extraction factor is
directly proportional to the time of extraction process. Percentage of
recovery and the extraction fraction are directly proportional to the
time of extraction process. These quantities and parameters of
extraction process could lead to choose a feasible extractor to the
leaching process.

20

9. Recommendations
9.1. Improvement of the lab
Regarding the environment of the laboratory it is recommended to
recycle the running water that is used in the condenser for other
purposes such as irrigation instead of draining it to sewage. Moreover,
it is recommended to have better housekeeping including arranging
the electrical wires. Further, it is recommended to place the chemical
waste in a proper place. Also, the chemical waste was noticed without
a proper sealing, it was covered with only gloves. In addition, a gas
cylinder was kept in the laboratory without any information about it.
Hence, it is safer to keep the gas cylinder in the corresponding
apparatus or take it outside the laboratory.

9.2. Correction of errors

Regarding improvement of the experiment and correction of errors it is
recommended to do a periodic check on the drainage pipe since a dirt
was noticed, and it might affect the results. Also, to be more accurate
with the time while getting the extract. It is recommended to have a
time controller connected to the drainage valve to release the extract,
it is more accurate method comparing with the traditional method
using a stopwatch.

21

10. References
[1] Extraction process, http://www.jove.com/scienceeducation/5538/solid-liquid-extraction , Date accessed 4th October
2016.
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accessed 4th October 2016.
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22

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11. Appendices
Appendix (A): Raw data

Figure 26: UV spectroscopy results for the known samples.

23

Figure 27: UV spectroscopy results for one of the unknown samples.

Appendix (B): Sample calculations

At the beginning the mass concentrations that were chosen for
standard curve was converted to molar concentration through:
n=

m
MW

24

For example,
n=

20 g / L
=0.1253mol / L
159.609 g/mol

Moreover, the previous equation was also used for the unknown
concentrations of the

CuSO 4

in order to convert from molarity to

mass concentration.
After recording the volume of the unknown samples and finding the
concentrations from the standard cure, we were able to find the
extracted mass of

CuSO 4

through:

m=mass conc . Xvolume

For example,
mExtracted=5

g
X 0.205 L=1.025 g of CuSO 4
L

Then to know the raffinate amount,

mRaffinate=10mExtracted

For example,
mExtracted=101.025=8.975 g of CuSO 4
Then the extraction factor and fraction, as well as the % recovery could
be calculated through:
Extraction factor =

mExtracted
mRaffinate

Extraction fraction=

mExtracted
initial amount

25

Recovery =Extraction factor100

For example,
mExtracted=1.025 g

mraffinate=8.975 g

Therefore,
Extractionfactor =

1.025
=0.114
8.975

Extraction fraction=

1.025
=0.1025
10

%Recovery=Extraction fraction100=10.25

Moreover, the extraction rate was calculated through:

the time
the amount extracted
Extraction Rate=
tehbeginning

For example, the extraction rate at time 40 is:

Extraction Rate=

1.5725 g
=0.0393 g/min
40 min

26

Appendix (C): Nomenclature

Symbol

Unit

Definition

C cuso 4 (extract )

mol
L

Concentration of extracted
copper sulfate

V mixture

ml

Volume of the mixture

mcuso 4 (initial )

Mass of initial copper sulfate

mcuso 4 (extract )

Mass of extracted copper sulfate

mcuso 4 (raffinate )

Mass of raffinate copper sulfate

Dimension
less

Extraction factor

27

28