Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology

College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Materials Engineering and Technology

ELUTRIATION
TECHNIQUE Presented by Julie Joy Andoy

METE 126 - Mineral Processing II

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION

ELUTRIATION TECHNIQUE

PRINCIPLE OF ELUTRIATION

APPARATUS USED IN ELUTRIATION

ADVANTAGE & DISADVANTAGES

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PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
◎ Particle Size
-grain size; refers to the diameter of a grain of a
granular material.

Figure 1 Particle size of a different material

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PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
◎ Particle Size Distribution
-grain size distribution
-a list of values that defines the relative
amounts of particles present sorted according
to size.

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Figure 2. Sample chart of PSD data gathered
SIGNIFICANCE OF
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
- Can be important in understanding
its physical and chemical properties of a
material.
- Affects the strength and load-bearing
properties of rocks and soil.
- Affects the reactivity of solids
participating in chemical reactions, and
needs to be tightly controlled in many
industrial products.
MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES OF
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION

1. Seive Analysis
2. Sedimentation Methods
3. Elutriation Techniques
4. Microscopic Sizing and Image Analysis
5. Electrical Impedance
6. Laser Diffraction method
ELUTRIATION
TECHNIQUE

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 “
a process for separating
particles based on their size,
shape, and density, using a
stream of gas or liquid flowing
in a direction opposite to the
direction of sedimentation.
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Figure 3. Simple Apparatus for Elutriation

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 PRINCIPLE OF ELUTRIATION
Feed particles introduced into the sorting column will
be separated into two fractions, according to
their terminal velocities calculated from Stokes’
Law.

Fine Particles

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Coarse Particles
 PRINCIPLE OF ELUTRIATION
Those particles having a terminal velocity less than
that of the velocity of fluid will report to the overflow,
while those particles having a greater terminal
velocity that the fluid velocity will sink to the
underflow.

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 PRINCIPLE OF ELUTRIATION
The technique is carried out such until there are no
visible signs of further classification taking place
or the rate of change in weights of the products is
negligible.

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Apparatus used
for Elutriation

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Gravitational Elutriation
In gravitational Elutriation the fluid
particles move downward due to sedimentation
(force of gravity) while the lighter particles
remain upward.

Figure 3.1 Gravitational Elutriation 14

Figure 3.1.1 Gravitational Elutriation

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Centrifugal Elutriation
Centrifugal Elutriation causes the fluid
stream to rotate under high centrifugal force
to suspend the particles.
These particles which are too large to
rotate with direction of flow of fluid, separates
out on the wall of the elutriator. However the
fine particles move easily with the stream of
fluid.

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Figure 3.1.2 Centrifugal Elutriation

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 Weight:
2.7-14.2 tonnes
Production Capacity:
5-45 tonnes/hour
Feeding size:
200 mesh/74 microns
Price:
Php 262,172.50 – Php
2,621,725.00
Application:
-Concentration of
magnetite
Figure 3.1.3 Elutriation Electro Magnetic Separator
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 ADVANTAGES
AND
DISADVANTAGES

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 ADVANTAGE
Elutriation appears more attractive than
decantation, and has certain practical
advantages in that the volume changes
needs no operation attention.

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DISADVANTAGES
The fluid velocity is not constant across
the sorting column, being a minimum
at the walls of the columns, and a
maximum at the center.
The separation size is calculated from
the mean volume flow, so that some
coarser particles are misplaced in the
overflow , and some fine particles are
misplaced into the coarse overflow.
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Thanks!
Any questions?

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References

Particle Size Distribution. Hussain, 2009. retrieved from

https://slideplayer.com/slide/5675607/
Miscellaneous Process. Dr. Ismail, 2015. retrieved from
https://slideplayer.com/slide/5876869/
Elutriation Electro Magnetic Separator. Retrieved from
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Elutriation-Electro-Magnetic-
Separator_60054858024.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.1.650f213cZqN
Yra

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