SEPARATION OF MIXTURES

SEPARATION OF MIXTURES
• Most materials found in nature are in the form of mixtures. A separation process is used
to transform a mixture into two or more pure substances. This is done by considering that
different components of the mixture may have different properties, such as:
 size
 density
 solubility
 electrical charge
 magnetic properties
 boiling point
 SEPARATION OF MIXTURES
• The individual substances in a mixture can be separated using different methods, depending
on the type of mixture.
• These methods include:
decantation
sieving
filtration
evaporation
distillation
magnetic separation
chromatography
 DECANTATION

• Decantation is a process of separating undissolved solid particles from a liquid or

separating two immiscible liquids. In simpler words, decantation is a process where
liquid can be separated from undissolved solids or another immiscible liquid with
different density, manually.
• It can be categorized into two types
 Liquid – solid separation
 Immiscible liquids separation
 DECANTATION - LIQUID – SOLID SEPARATION

• Decantation can be used to separate undissolved solids from liquids. In this process, first
the undissolved solids are allowed to sediment at the bottom of the container via the
action of gravity.
• Than the pure liquid is poured out carefully from the container into another container.
The solid is left behind at the bottom of the container.
• This method is widely used in laboratories, the test tube is placed at a 45 o to allow
effective sedimentation. The angle also makes pouring easier. 
DECANTATION - LIQUID – SOLID SEPARATION
 DECANTATION – IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS SEPARATION

• Decantation can be used to separate immiscible liquids that have different densities. For
example, when a mixture of water and oil is present in a beaker, a distinct layer between
the two consistency is formed, with the oil layer floating on top of the water layer. This
separation can be done by pouring oil out of the container, leaving water behind.  
• A separatory funnel is an alternative apparatus for separating liquid layers.  It has a valve
at the bottom to allow draining off the bottom layer. It can give better separation
between the two liquids.
DECANTATION – IMMISCIBLE LIQUIDS SEPARATION
 DECANTATION

• Examples
 Decantation of wine from the potassium bitartrate crystals to avoid unsavory taste. This makes
the wine more tonic and astringent.
 To obtain a sample of clear water from muddy water, muddy water is poured into another
container, which separates the water from the mud.
 In the sugar industry, the processing of sugar beets into granular sugar and many liquid - solid
decantation is encountered e.g. separation of syrups from crystals.
 Cream accelerates to the top of milk, allowing the separation of milk and cream. This is used
in the cheese industry.  
 The process of deriving vinegar also requires decantation to remove fats and bio molecular
antioxidants from the raw substance.
 SIEVING

• Sieving is a simple technique for separating particles of different sizes. The mixtures having
components of different sizes is put in sieve and the sieve is moved back and forth continuously.
The larger particles of the mixture cannot pass trough the small holes of the sieve and remain
behind in the sieve.
• The mixtures gets separated into two components: one have small particles and the other having
larger particles.
• The size of the holes of a sieve to be used depends on the size of particles of the material to be
separated from mixture. Sieves are also used to separate stones from sand.
 SIEVING

• A sieve such as used for sifting flour has very small holes.
• Sieves are also used to separate stones from sand. 
• Sieving plays an important role in food industries where sieves (often vibrating) are used to
prevent the contamination of the product by foreign bodies.
 FILTRATION

• Filtration is one of the simplest methods used to separate mixtures.

• If one of the components is a liquid and the other is undissolved solid, filtration is as
easy as pouring the whole mixture through filter paper.
• The fluid that is filtered out is called the filtrate and the solid that remains or collected
on the filter is the residue. The thin filter medium is a barrier that is crossed by very
minute particles of liquid whereas big grains stay on the filter.
• Some of the most common filter aids used is silica, diatomaceous earth, cellulose and
perlite. They can be used alone or with paper filter.
 FILTRATION

• An everyday example of filtration can be seen in a coffee maker, where the coffee passes
through a paper filter but the grounds do not.
• We filter the hot tea using mesh filter, where water has dissolved the juices of tea leaves,
whereas the dust or leaves remain as residue.
• Nowadays vacuum cleaners used attached filters to soak the dust inside.
• HEPA filters in air conditioning to remove particles from air.
• Oil filter in automobiles.
FILLTRATION
 EVAPORATION

• Evaporation is a separation method to separate components of a mixture with a

dissolved solid in a liquid.  

• The liquid is evaporated, meaning it is convert from its liquid state to gaseous state. This
often requires heat. Once the liquid is completely evaporated, the solid is all that is left
behind.

• In many parts of the world, table salt is obtained from the evaporation of sea water. The
heat for the process comes from the sun.
EVAPORATION

Evaporation of see water

 SIMPLE DISTILLATION

• Simple distillation is a method for separating the solvent from a solution.

• For example, water can be separated from salt solution by simple distillation. This
method works because water has a much lower boiling point than salt. When the
solution is heated, the water evaporates. It is then cooled and condensed into a separate
container. The salt does not evaporate and so it stays behind.
• Every pure substance has its own particular melting point and boiling point. One way to
check the purity of the separated liquid is to measure its boiling point. For example, pure
water boils at 100°C. If it contains any solids, its boiling point will be higher than this.
SIMPLE DISTILLATION

Salt solution is heated.

 SIMPLE DISTILLATION

Water evaporates and its vapor rise. The water vapor passes into the condenser, where it cools and
condenses. Liquid water drips into a beaker.
 SIMPLE DISTILLATION

All the water has evaporated from the salt solution,

leaving the salt behind.
 MAGNETIC SEPARATION
• Magnetic separation is quite suitable for separating two Solids with one part that has
Magnetic Property.
• Some of the Metals such as Nickel, Iron, and Cobalt have the Magnetic Properties, but
Silver, Gold, and Aluminium don’t have Magnetic Properties. The magnet attracts
Magnetic elements.
• Recycling centers use magnetic separation often to separate components from recycling,
isolate metals, and purify ores. Overhead magnets, magnetic pulleys, and
the magnetic drums are the methods used in the recycling industry. 
• Magnetic separation is also useful in mining iron as it is attracted to a magnet.
MAGNETIC SEPARATION
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