It has been used in the nuclear industry where short organic-aqueous contact times are required for the recovery of rare earths. It is a horizontal continuous differential counter-current type extractor.

Internals consist of a series of concentric sieve plates; thus it acts like an accelerated sieve plate column. Aqueous moves from the centre outwards, while organic moves inwards. It Includes clarification zones for organic and aqueous before discharge. Organic discharges under pressure so that a pump is normally not needed. The aqueous solution needs to be pumped.

There are some very prominent points about this type of extractor which makes it  unique, such as its ability to operate with small droplets promoting rapid kinetics, less back mixing than columns.

It can also operate with liquids with small density differences and because of the very short contact time, it can handle relatively high flow rates, up to 140 m3/h of feed solution. Its capacity is proportional to speed of rotation and it operates with either phase continuous over a wide range of phase ratios. It’s a boon where area is much of concern as it requires very small footprint area and is totally enclosed (has balanced mechanical seals).