Particle Technology

Introduction to Mechanical Separations

Makhdoom Ibad Ullah Hashmi

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Course Contents:

1. Introduction to Separation processes:

2. Discussion of Mechanical separations processes:

i. Filtration iv. Electrostatic Separations

ii. Sedimentation v. Flotation
iii. Centrifugal Separation
Reference Books:
1. J.M. Coulson, & J.F. Richardson, “Coulson & Richardson’s
Chemical Engineering” , Vol. 2, Ed. 5, Butterworth
Heinemann. Inc
2. Julian C. Smith, Warren L. McCabe , and Peter Harriott, “ Unit
Operations of Chemical Engineering”, Ed. 5, McGraw-Hill

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Separation :

A technique that transform a mixture of substances into

two or more products differing in composition.

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Need of Separation Processes:

1. The ever-increasing demands on product purity, particularly

in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries,
2. The gradual reduction in the quality of raw materials, this
being a particularly serious problem in mineral processing,
3. The growing demands for environmental acceptability of
waste materials.

Key operations in Chemical Plant:

1. Chemical Reactions
2. Separation of chemicals
3. Separation of phases

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Need of Separation Processes:

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Separation of Manufacturing Process:

Product Recovery
Feed Preparation Reaction and Purification
Section Section Section

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Separation in Petroleum Refinery:

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Mechanism of Separation:

Mixing:

1. Spontaneous process
2. Increases randomness and entropy (Second Law of Thermodynamic)
3. No energy requirement

Separation:

1. Non-Spontaneous process
2. Attempt to decrease entropy, increase order and against to Second
Law of Thermodynamic
3. Separation mechanism (Energy flow/mechanical work)
requirement

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Mechanism of Separation:

Separating Agents:

• Energy input (heat, pressure, electricity, magnetism, kinetic or

potential energy)
• Withdrawal of energy (cooling, freezing)
• Matter (filter, membrane, chemicals)

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Mechanism of Separation:

Separation by phase creation Separation by phase addition

Separation by barrier

Separation by solid agent Separation by force field or gradient

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Classification of Separation Technology:
Separation Processing:

Mass Transfer Operations: Mechanical Separations:

Based on transfer of material Based on physical differences, such

between phases as density, size, or shape

Applicable to Applicable to
Homogeneous Solutions Heterogeneous Mixtures

Absorption, drying, Sedimentation, Filtration

distillation, solvent extraction Flotation, Clarification

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Classification of Separation Technology:
Separation Processing:

Mass Transfer Operations: Mechanical Separations:

1. Distillation 1. Filtration
2. Absorption 2. Ultra-filtration
3. Stripping 3. Sedimentation
4. Adsorption 4. Centrifugal Separation
5. Liquid-Liquid Extraction 5. Flotation
6. Drying 6. Electrostatic Precipitation
7. Evaporation 7. Jigging
8. Crystallization 8. Tabling
9. Leaching 9. Sonic Agglomeration
10. Ion Exchange 10. Membrane Separation
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1. Filtration (Mechanical Separations) :
Filtration is a mechanical or physical operation which is used for
the separation of solids from fluids (liquids or gases) by interposing
a medium through which only the fluid can pass.

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2. Ultra-Filtration (Mechanical Separations) :

Ultra-filtration (UF) is a variety of membrane filtration in which

hydrostatic pressure forces a liquid against a semi permeable
membrane. Suspended solids and solutes of high molecular weight are
retained, while water and low molecular weight solutes pass through
the membrane.

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3. Sedimentation (Mechanical Separations) :

Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in suspension to settle out

of the fluid in which they are entrained, and come to rest against a
barrier.

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4. Centrifugal Separation (Mechanical Separations) :

Centrifugal Separation is the separation technique in which mixture

of substances having different densities is separated by applying
centrifugal force.

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5. Flotation (Mechanical Separations) :

The process of separating different materials, especially minerals,

by agitating a pulverized mixture of the materials with water, oil,
and chemicals. Differential wetting of the suspended particles
causes unwanted particles to be carried by air bubbles to the surface
for collection.

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6. Electrostatic Precipitation (Mechanical Separations) :

Electrostatic precipitation is defined as the use of an electrostatic

field for precipitating or removing charged solid or liquid particles
from a gas stream in which the particles are carried in suspension.

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7. Jigging (Mechanical Separations) :

A gravity based separation method which separates mineral from

gangue particles by utilizing an effective difference in settling rate
through a periodically dilated bed.
It is simply a method of pulsed shaking which allows
heavier minerals to settle.

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8. Tabling (Mechanical Separations) :

Separation of two materials of different densities by passing a

dilute suspension over a slightly inclined table having a reciprocal
horizontal motion or shake with a slow forward motion and a fast
return.

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9. Sonic Agglomeration (Mechanical Separations) :

The union of small particles suspended in a fluid medium into

larger aggregates by the action of sound waves is called sonic
agglomeration.

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Mechanical Separations:
Mechanical separation operations depend on differences in bulk
properties, such as density or particle size, to bring about the
separation of different components of a mixture.

Mechanical Separations in Food Industry:

Some specific examples for foods include:

1. Clarification of juices,
2. Wine and beer;
3. Removal of excess pulp from fruit juice;
4. Separation of solvents from oil seed meal;
5. Separation of water from oils;
6. Removal of dust from air;

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Advantages/Dis-advantages of Mechanical Separations:

Advantages:

• Relatively less Energy Requirements (Utilities)

• Ease of Operation
• Ease of Maintenance (But not in all)
• No special Feed pretreatment required

Dis-Advantages:
• Not applicable for separating Components in homogeneous
phase
• They are not versatile i.e. in same state may be one element can
be separated and other can not
• Applicable to low flow rates

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Factors Effecting the Selection of Separation Process:

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