In this research work, liquid-liquid extraction via three different systems has been investigated for determination of holdup, flooding velocities and holdup at the flooding points in a multistage column extractor. The effects of various parameters including rotor speed and dispersed and continuous phase velocities were studied. The results showed that the enhancement of rotor speed and dispersed and continuous phase velocities would enhance the dispersed phased holdup. There was a significant increase in the holdup at the flooding points with an increase in the rotor speed because of the smaller drops formation. New correlations were also developed for prediction of the flooding velocities, holdup at flooding points and dispersed phase holdup in the multistage column extractor. The results of the proposed correlation were compared with the experimental data obtained from the literature and the present investigation. Findings of this study demonstrated that the proposed correlations give accurate predictions for flooding characteristics. (C) 2015 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.