The use of electrostatic fields to effect phase dispersion and agitation in solvent extraction (SX) has demonstrated many advantages over conventional mechanical methods and is therefore a very real alternative. Despite this, an industrial application of the technique is yet to be developed. Here, the several variations of the technique that have been proposed are reviewed, the state-of-the-art assessed and key limitations to a commercial application outlined._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Steffens, M J and Ibana, D C, 2006. The use of electrostatic fields to effect phase dispersion in solvent extraction - a review of the state-of-the-art, in Proceedings New Leaders' 2006, pp 15-20 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).