Particle technology for separation from "summary" of Introduction to Chemical Engineering by Uche P. Nnaji
Particle technology is a process that uses particles to separate and purify mixtures. This technique can be used to separate components from a large variety of materials, resulting in a more refined product. It is a powerful and cost-effective method to achieve the desired separation.- Particle technology is a branch of science and engineering that deals with the manipulation of the physical properties of objects for use in certain separation processes.
- Various methods of particle technology have become important tools in industrial applications since it provides some useful means for liquid-solid and gas-solid mixtures in order to achieve desired separations.
- Furthermore, particle technology is used to increase efficiency as well as decreasing energy costs due to multistaging techniques employed in this field that helps optimise separations and recycle materials.
- One of the most common types of particle technology involves flotation which organic and inorganic compounds can be separated in a cost effective manner from aqueous solutions.
- Not only does particle technology help produce valuable products but also allows the recovery of lost material through removing pollutants which would not be possible if certain contaminants were distributed into the environment.
- Sedimentation and filtration are other forms of treatment that have been increasingly used in particle technology for many years. These methods involve the use of screens , bowls or drums to separate solids from liquids or suspended particles from one another.
- The process of adsorption can also be used in particle technology which binds reactive substances onto specific sites so they may be recovered or removed during downstream operations.
- It works by either utilizing the surface tension of particles or using various strategies such as sieving, sedimentation, screening, gravity or centrifugal force to separate different elements or molecules.
- In most cases, it involves the sizing and grading process where particles are divided up depending upon their characteristics such as size, shape, density, bulk and attractive forces.
- This technique has been utilised within a variety of industries such as agriculture, cosmetics manufacturing and food processing. It can also be applied in the minerals industry to separate different minerals for ore beneficiation.
- All these technologies have made a vast contribution in assisting manufacturers save time, money and energy from certain separations tasks.
