Methods of Separation
Most of the time the substances that we see around us are not in their pure form. They are
basically a mixture of two or more substances. Interestingly, mixtures tend to also come in
different forms. Therefore, there are several types of separation techniques that are used in
segregating a mixture of substances. As for the need for separation, it is usually done to remove
all the unwanted materials and obtain useful components.
Table of Contents
Methods Of Separating Mixtures
Handpicking
Threshing
Winnowing
Sieving
Evaporation
Distillation
Filtration or Sedimentation
Separating Funnel
Magnetic Separation
Flocculation
Chromatography
Methods of Separating Mixtures
Some of the common methods of separating substances or mixtures are:
1. Handpicking
2. Threshing
3. Winnowing
4. Sieving
5. Evaporation
6. Distillation
7. Filtration or Sedimentation
8. Separating Funnel
9. Magnetic Separation
10. Flocculation
11. Chromatography
Let us discuss them in detail below.
Handpicking
This method involves simply picking out all the unwanted substances by hand and separating
them from useful ones. The separated substances may be an impurity that has to be thrown away
or maybe that both the separated substances are useful. For example – if you separate black
grapes from green ones from a mixture of the two.
Threshing
This method is mostly done during the harvesting of crops. Normally, the stalks of the wheat are
dried once it is harvested. The grain is then separated from the stalks and grounded into the floor
by beating the dry stalks to shake off the dried grains.
Winnowing
When the grains are collected from the process of threshing, it needs to be cleared out of husks
and chaffs before it is turned into flour. Normally the separation of the mixture is carried out
with the help of wind or blowing air. The husk and chaff are blown away by the strong wind
when the farmers drop the mixture from a certain height to the ground. The heavier grains are
collected at one place.
Sieving
It is done to separate mixtures that contain substances mostly of different sizes. The mixture is
passed through the pores of the sieve. All the smaller substances pass through easily while the
bigger components of the mixture are retained.
Evaporation
Evaporation is a technique that is used in separating a mixture, usually a solution of a solvent and
a soluble solid. In this method, the solution is heated until the organic solvent evaporates where it
turns into a gas and mostly leaves behind the solid residue.
Distillation
When mixtures consist of two or more pure liquids than distillation is used. Here the components
of a liquid mixture are vaporized, condensed and then isolated. The mixture is heated and the
component which is volatile evaporates first. The vapour moves through a condenser and is
collected in a liquid state.
Filtration or Sedimentation
The most common method of separating a liquid from an insoluble solid is the filtration. Take,
for example, the mixture of sand and water. Filtration is used here to remove solid particles from
the liquid. Various filtering agents are normally used like filtering paper or other materials.
Sedimentation is a process by which heavier impurities present in liquid normally water settle
down at the bottom of the container containing the mixture. The process takes some amount of
time.
Separating Funnel
Separating funnel is used mainly to segregate two immiscible liquids. The mechanism involves
taking advantage of the unequal density of the particles in the mixture. Oil and water can be
easily separated using this technique.
Magnetic Separation
When one substance in the mixture has some magnetic properties then this method is quite
useful. Strong magnets are commonly used to separate magnetic elements.
Flocculation
Flocculation is a process by which a chemical coagulant added to the water acts to facilitate
bonding between particles, creating larger aggregates which are easier to separate. The method is
widely used in water treatment plants and can also be applied to sample processing for
monitoring applications.
Chromatography
Chromatography is the separation of a mixture by passing it in solution or suspension, or as a
vapor (as in gas chromatography), through a medium in which the components move at different
rates. Thin-layer chromatography is a special type of chromatography used for separating and
identifying mixtures that are or can be colored, especially pigments.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What are chemical methods of separation?
Distillation, crystallisation, adsorption, membrane procedures, absorption and stripping, and
oxidation are the typical chemical engineering methods of isolation and purification.
How can you separate sand and salt?
It either remains in the bath as sand is applied to the bath or forms a film on the bottom of the
bottle. Consequently, sand does not dissolve in water and is insoluble. Through separating the
mixture, it is easy to segregate sand and water. Salt by evaporation may be isolated from a
solution.
What are two types of mixtures?
Two types of mixtures exist: heterogeneous and homogeneous. Two or more ingredients (or
phases, regions with standardised structure and properties) intermingle in heterogeneous
mixtures but remain physically distinct.
Is Coca Cola a mixture?
Although the sugar and water are blended equally in the solution, Coca cola is a homogeneous
mixture. You can also see the basic ingredients in a homogeneous mixture such as coca cola, but
heterogeneous means that you can see the basic ingredients such as a salad.
Can homogeneous mixtures be separated?
Components in homogeneous mixtures “can typically be distinguished by taking account of the
varying properties of the different components.” A mixture can be heated “until the component
that boils at the lowest temperature becomes a vapour and can be distinguished” during the
distillation process.
