Mechanical Operation: Separation of Particles

The separation of particles is done on the bases of their properties, like size of the particle, density of particle. If the particles are of different sizes, then the separation can be done by either using screening or on the basis of difference between their settling velocities called sizing, and materials of same equivalent size are separated according to their densities called sorting.

because of size of particle and its density, particle will have different settling velocity, on the basis of which particles can be separated using a fluid whose density may be closer to one of the type of particles. the mixture of two types of materials A and B having same size range but different density, can be separated into 3 section consisting pure A, pure B and mixture of A and B.