ELUTRIATION Meaning and
Definition
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Elutriation is a scientific process used to separate and classify particles or substances based on their size, density, or weight. It is commonly employed in fields such as chemistry, geology, environmental science, and material science.
The process of elutriation involves suspending a mixture of particles in a fluid medium and subjecting it to controlled flow conditions or mechanical agitation. This causes the particles to separate based on their different settling velocities or rates of sedimentation. The fluid medium used in elutriation is typically a liquid, such as water or a specific solvent, or a gas, such as air.
The elutriation process typically includes the use of an elutriator or an elutriation column, which can be a vertical or inclined cylindrical vessel. The mixture enters the column, and the fluid flow is adjusted to create the desired conditions for separation. As the fluid flows upwards or downwards, the larger or heavier particles settle at a faster rate and collect at one end, while the smaller or lighter particles remain suspended and collect at the other end.
Elutriation is utilized for various purposes. For instance, it can be used to separate minerals or rocks based on their grain sizes, to classify soil particles for agricultural or environmental studies, or to fractionate cells or biological particles in medical or biotechnological research. It is an effective and precise method to isolate and study substances based on their physical properties, aiding in the understanding and research of diverse scientific disciplines.
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The separation of a coarse insoluble powder from a finer one by suspending them in water and pouring off the finer powder from the upper part of the fluid, the coarser one sinking first to the bottom.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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The process of washing metallic ores, &c., by which the lighter earthy parts are separated from the heavier and metallic.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for ELUTRIATION
- wlutriation
- slutriation
- dlutriation
- rlutriation
- 4lutriation
- 3lutriation
- ekutriation
- eputriation
- eoutriation
- elytriation
- elhtriation
- eljtriation
- elitriation
- el8triation
- el7triation
- elurriation
- elufriation
- elugriation
- eluyriation
Etymology of ELUTRIATION
The word "elutriation" comes from the Latin term "elutriare", which means "to wash out" or "to rinse". The Latin word is derived from the combination of the prefix "e-" (meaning "out") and the verb "lutum" (meaning "mud" or "sediment"). Elutriation refers to a process in which a mixture of substances, usually a solid and a liquid, is separated by allowing the solid particles to settle and then rinsing them with a solvent or liquid to further purify or remove impurities.
Similar spelling words for ELUTRIATION
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