EXTRACTOR is a program used for the optimal design of multicomponent liquid-liquid extraction processes using multistage countercurrent extractor systems. The method used determines the optimum number of equilibrium stages and flowrates to obtain a specified product separation and recovery, it also accounts for the possibility of side feed streams and product extractions. The algorithm solves the problem by iterating between reduced NLP subproblems and a MILP master problem according to J. A. Reyes and I. Grosssmann (2000).

This interface is written in language C and runs on Windows 98 or Windows-NT. The way this interface works is through different menus; it is flexible and easy to use. Given the data of the problem, EXTRACTOR creates a new GAMS file containing the model equations and optimizes the problem.
EXTRACTOR has been developed by Gabriela Garcia-Ayala under the supervision of Ignacio Grossmann.

References for EXTRACTOR:

J. A. Reyes and I. Grosssmann , 'Disjunctive Programming Models for the Optimal Design or Liquid-Liquid Multistage Extractors and Separation Sequences' (2000).

Garcia-Ayala, Gabriela, Guidelines for EXTRACTOR Interface, Carnegie Mellon University, Engineering Design Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 2000.

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