AlHussein Bin Talal

University
Faculty of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department

Unit Operation Laboratory

FIRST EXPERIMENT :
SIEVING OF SOLID MATERIALS
Doctor:
Prof. Saleh Rawadieh

Instructor:
Eng. Eman Bani-Hani

Students:
Ahmad Alatili
Aseel Al-Naser
Roaa Altarade
Tala Al-Bakri

1
 Experiment Number (1)

SIEVING OF SOLID MATERIALS

ABSTRACT:
This experiment is about weighed a sample of sand and put it on the sieves,
then operated the device and shaker at a medium speed for 10 minutes, then
we weighed the sample on each sieve and calculated the percentage of
(oversize) and (finer) particles, and we reached through it to the following
relationship (d60/d10) that the value of the uniformity coefficient is
(Cu=2.76), which means classifies the soil as poorly graded.

Introduction :
Particle-size distribution refers to the range of particle sizes that make up a
sample of solid material. It is a measure of the relative amounts of particles of
different sizes within a sample, and is typically expressed as a histogram or
curve that shows the frequency of particles at each size.

Measuring particle-size distribution can be accomplished using a variety of

methods, including sieving, sedimentation, and laser diffraction, among
others.

The sieving of solid materials is a main process in unit operation. It involves

the separation of particles based on their size, shape, and other physical
properties, and is used to produce products with a consistent particle size or
to remove impurities from a material. Sieving can be accomplished using a
variety of methods, including vibration, air flow, and centrifugal force, and is
typically performed using a mesh or screen to separate particles of different
sizes. The analysis of particle size distributions is the determination of
oversize and undersize particles which can be calculated depends on the
experimental data.

2
Calculations:
d(mm) mass(g) mass retained % oversize % undersize %
2 20 20.40816327 20.40816327 79.59183673
1 4 4.081632653 24.48979592 75.51020408
0.71 7 7.142857143 31.63265306 68.36734694
0.5 14 14.28571429 45.91836735 54.08163265
0.355 18 18.36734694 64.28571429 35.71428571
0.25 16 16.32653061 80.6122449 19.3877551
pan 19 19.3877551 100 0
total mass retained= 98g 100%
-Table 1:

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬
➢
mass retained% = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬

➢
oversize% = ∑ 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 % 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭

➢
undersize% = ∑ 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 % 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭

Using interpolation:
d Undersize % d Undersize%
500 54.08163265 d10 10
d60 60 250 19.3877551
710 68.36734694 355 35.71428571
d60=0.587mm d10=0.2126mm
𝑑60 0.587
CU= 𝑑10=0.2126 = 2.76

3
 90

80

70

60
cumulative %

50

40
d10
30
d60
20
Size distribution
curve (undersize)
10
oversize

0
0.1 1 10
d (mm)
-Fig. 1:

25

20

15
retained
%

10

0
d (mm)
0.1 1 10

-Fig. 2:

4
Discussion:
In this experiment, the goal is to separate a mixture of solids into different size
fractions using a sieve. A sample of 100g is measured, the sample is placed on
top of the sieve, and the sieve is shaken to allow the smaller particles to pass
through the holes while the larger particles remain on top.

After ten minutes of vibration with medium speed, the mass on each sieve
must be measured and tabulated the values, as we do in table (1), we noticed
that the total mass after sieving was 98g, so there was 2g missed which can be
a human error, then depends on that tabulated values we have drawn the size
distribution curve chart, which shows what the average particle size is, what
the minimum size is, and what the maximum size is. From figure (1) the
Effective Size can determined which represents a diameter that directly
corresponds to the percentage, by weight, of sample that equal to 10% on the
diagram. The uniformity coefficient (Cu) is defined as the ratio of D60 to D10.
A value of Cu classifieds the sample size range. A uniformity coefficient value
of 2 or 3 classifies the soil as poorly graded.

Conclusion:
-Sieving process is an easy process and it doesn't need to much effort or
power.

-Size distribution curve is a very useful chart which shows a lot of

information’s about the sample.

- The value of the uniformity coefficient (Cu) obtained from our experiment is
between 2 and 3, so our soils are classified as poorly graded.