MALAWI UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS AND

APPLIED SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING

BACHALOR OF METALLURGY AND MINERAL
PROCESSING ENGINEERING

SUBMITED BY : GROUP 2
NAMES REG NO.
BLESSINGS KAMALA BMMP/15/PE/009
CHISOMO LUMBE BMMP/16/SS/009
BRIAN GOLIAT BMMP/16/SS/005

SUBMITED TO : MR W. MUSHANI
MODULE TITLE : METAL FORMING
MODULE CODE : MEC-PRD-511
DUE DATE : 03/02/22
SOLID –SOLID SEPARATION OF MIXTURES
Most of the substances that are available are mixtures. In order to use most of the components
from the mixtures, there are supposed to be methods to separate the available components from
the compounds using a suitable method. The method employed is dependent on the nature of the
mixture so that we should extract the intended component. One of the mixtures is a solid and
solid(s) mixture, are many methods to achieve the separation. Therefore, this will discuss the
methods used for separation of solid to solid mixtures.

1. Mechanical Picking or Handpicking:

In this method, components are separated on the basis of physical characteristics like size and
shape. Example- Removing stones from grains. This technique in which a mixture can be
separated by picking them out by hand is called Handpicking. This method can be used to
separate slightly larger pieces of dirt, stones and husk from the grains because the quantity of
such impurities is usually not very large.
2. Sieving:
Sieving is a simple technique for separating particles of different sizes. A sieve such as used
for sifting flour has very small holes. Coarse particles are separated or broken up by grinding
against one another and the screen openings.
3. Gravity separation method
This method utilizes the difference in density of the components in the mixtures. Mediums
are used in order to separate the solids with the aid of machines, certain equipment or other
devices.

Winnowing
Winnowing means the separation of two heterogeneous solids, which can be defined by the
separation of heavier substance from the lighter substance of a mixture using air or blowing
air. It depended on the fact that mixture containing two components and one is heavier than
another one, then it separated.
Jiggs
Shaking table
Spiral concentrators
4. Threshing
The common method for manual threshing is hand beating against an object, treading, or
holding the crop against a rotating drum with spikes or rasp bars.
 5. Magnetic Separation
If a mixture contains iron as one of the constituents, it can be separated by using a magnet.
E.g. A mixture of iron fillings and Sulphur powder can be separated by a magnet. Iron
filings will get attracted to the magnet and Sulphur won’t. This technique is useful for a
few minerals which contain magnetic properties and also for minerals with paramagnetic
(materials that are less affected) properties. Not all metals are magnetic; gold, silver and
aluminium are some examples.
EQUIPMENT
Sieves
Winnowers
Magnets
Vibrating tables
Jiggs
Shaking table
Spiral concentrators
Grinders
Froth floatation
FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR SOLID TO SOLID SEPARATION METHODS
- Density
There is supposed to be a difference in densities so that the separation should be efficient.
Particle sizes
- There is a need to consider difference of particle sizes when choosing the method.
- Clarity of the particles
The particles should have a clear difference in appearance and sometimes in size to ensure effective
separation.
- Difference in magnetism
This actually applies to iron separation from other mixtures, hence, a separation of hematite from
magnetite cannot occur using magnetic method of separation.
- The medium separation used
The medium should not be reactive to the solids so that it should not modify the desirable physical
or chemical properties of the required component.
- Equipment used
The equipment used should be compatible with the properties of the solids to separated.
Particles surface

GENERAL SYMBOLS ON A FLOW SHEET

Commonly, sieves (screens), meshes and cyclones are the ones used for solid solid separation and
the y can be show as below

Mesh entrained separator

A screen

A cyclone
separator
REFERENCE
https://byjus.com/question-answer/state-any-five-methods-of-separating-a-solid-solid-mixture/
Wills