Abstract
We report extraction efficiency of the micro counter-current extraction was quantitatively analyzed. The results could not be explained only by molecular diffusion and suggested some hydrodynamic effects of molecular transport around the liquid-liquid interface. In fact, chaotic vortices and transient vortex-like flow have been observed around the liquid-liquid interface in the micro counter-current flow. These vortex-like flows may be effective in stirring around the liquid-liquid interface and hydrodynamic instability may facilitate molecular transport across the liquid-liquid interface. Copyright © 2005 by the Transducer Research Foundation, Inc.