Purification and Separation Processes

Separation of Products – Thermal, Mechanical and Chemical Processes

In separation processes, the different chemical and physical properties of mixed substances are used in order to separate them from one another – In other words to purify them. The separation of mixtures of substances is one of the most important basic procedural operations and is an indispensable part of most production processes: Often the desired substances must first be separated from a resulting mixture for further processing.

Various Functions of Purification and Separation Processes

Purification can have different functions:
• Separation of products and by-products
• Recycling of solvents or unreacted reactants
• Purification of raw materials and products

BNT can supply high-purity substances and our extensively equipped laboratory continuously checks the quality of production. Mastery of the necessary separation processes is crucial for consistently good results. BNT has the equipment and experience with various thermal, mechanical, and chemical separation processes.

In addition, with IBU-tec, the Group offers even more diverse capacities and know-how for thermal processes. In rotary kilns and pulsation reactors, further separation and drying processes can be carried out as well as treatments to improve material properties.

Thermal Separation Processes

Thermal separation processes use the different thermodynamic properties or the adjustment of a thermodynamic phase equilibrium to separate mixtures of substances from each other. Purification based on different boiling points or freezing points are obvious examples that can be used most efficiently when individual components have very different phase transition points.

  • Distillation
  • Drying
  • Fluidized Bed
  • Freezing
  • Treatment in a roller dryer
  • Treatment in spray dryer
  • Stripping

Read more about the use of drying processes at BNT.

Mechanical & Physical Separation Processes

In the mechanical separation process, the different physical properties of the components are used to separate them out of a mixture, such as density, particle size or surface wettability. Mixtures of substances in different phases can often be easily separated from one another using mechanical purification processes.

  • Liquid-liquid extraction
  • Filtration
  • Extraction
  • Filter presses
  • Belt filter
  • Conical dryer
  • Centrifuge
  • Sedimentation
  • Decantation
  • Slurry
  • Sifting
  • Membrane separation process

Chemical Separation Processes

Separation processes that make use of chemical reactions change the physical properties of the components of a mixture of substances that are to be separated – but without influencing the other components in the same way. The resulting new characteristic are then used for the separation.

  • Washing
  • Dissolution
  • Agglomeration
  • Precipitation
  • Crystallization
  • Extraction
  • Ion exchange
 
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