Separation Technology

Separation technology is a far-reaching term. According to DIN 8580, separation is the alteration of a body’s form due to the breaking-up of the local cohesion. Separation procedures are therefore important in various fields, such as in the industry, in handling metal-working manufacturing, in crafts and trades or in chemical laboratories. In manufacturing technology, for example, predominantly solid matters such as metals are separated. Separation procedures are also used in process engineering, in which the various material properties are utilized. Included in these separation procedures are thermal and mechanical procedures. Regarding thermal procedures, the boiling and freezing points are utilized. Particle sizes, densities and magnetizability are properties that are important predominantly in mechanical procedures. But not only solid matters are separated. Fluid mixtures made up of two or more materials can be separated into their components via various procedures. A distinction is made here between homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures. A homogeneous mixture is when the components of a mixture are mixed down to a molecular level and form a single phase in which no distinction between the components can be made. In contrast, heterogeneous mixtures are made up of chemical compounds in which the different phases can still be distinguished. The separation can be carried out via easy procedures, the basic form of which any student learns in chemistry class. The most well-known procedure is filtration. Here, solid matters are separated from fluid matters via a strainer or filter paper, for example the filtration of coffee powder from coffee water. The next separation technology procedure is sedimentation. Earth’s gravitational force is utilized in this procedure, insofar as that heavy components in a fluid sink to the bottom. Centrifugation is a more physical process. Through the centrifugal force, heavier components are pushed to the bottom of the container that is to be centrifuged. Therefore, a deposit takes place. When it comes to separation technology, one should take into consideration the materials and their respective properties in order to achieve optimal results. One reason for this is the fact that it is hard to reverse the use of separation technology in order to regain a solid material. In the broadest sense, separation technology also include all instruments and devices which can perform separation procedures such as saws, sawing blades, knives, scalpels and full-automatic systems. PCE Instruments Ltd. has a series of separation technology. Almost everyone should be able to find the appropriate separation device here.
If you don't find the separation technology you are looking for, please contact us and we will help you find the best solution to suit your needs by calling our offices on: UK customers +44(0) 23 809 870 30 / US customers (561) 320-9162 and our technical staff will advise you regarding our laboratory technology. Our engineers and technicians will be happy to help you with the separation technology, and of course, with the other products in the field of measuring instruments, regulation and control, or scales and balances of PCE Instruments Ltd.

Mechanical separation procedures in separation technology:

Filtration: Filtration is one of the mechanical separation procedures in separation technology. The mixture that is to be separated goes through a filter or strainer. Only those parts that are bigger than the pore size are kept back.
Decantation: Here, the mixture is in a container and the solid matter deposits to the ground of the container. The top layer can then be carefully poured off. A problem regarding this separation technology is, however, that no 100% separation is possible.
Sedimentation: Sedimentation in separation technology is the deposition of gases and liquids under the influence of forces, such as for example gravitation.
Magnetic separation: Here, mixtures made up of magnetic and non-magnetic materials can be separated. More exactly: the magnetic material can be pulled out via a magnet.
Thermal procedures in separation technology:
Distillation: Here, a mixture of various soluble materials is separated via heat input. The materials must have different boiling points, so that the material with the lower boiling point volatized first.