Sedimentation Definition, Process, Types and Applications

Have you ever seen mud sitting at the bottom of a glass of dirty water? That’s sedimentation in action. Sedimentation is a natural process when solid particles in a liquid settle down at the bottom over time. It’s one of the oldest and simplest methods used in science to separate mixtures, especially in water in water purification and other industrial processes. In this article, we’ll explore what sedimentation means, how it works, its different types, and where it’s used in real life.

What is Sedimentation?

Sedimentation is a process of separating the solids from the liquid. Sedimentation is one of the processes through which we can remove the high impurities present in the solution. All the solids present in the solution settle down in the beaker and the top layer of the beaker remains cleared. Sedimentation is also used in water treatment as used to remove the debris from the water.

Chemistry Notes Free PDFs

Topic	PDF Link
Chemical Equilibrium Notes	Download PDF
Quantum Number in Chemistry Notes	Download PDF
Circle Study Notes of Maths	Download PDF
Alternating Current Notes	Download PDF
Friction in Physics	Download PDF
Class 11 Biology Short Notes PDF	Download PDF
Class 12 Biology Short Notes PDF	Download PDF

Let us see an experiment:

The sedimentation process can be located via a small experiment. Take a glass jar and fill it with a backyard range of mud. Pour some water, shake it properly and hold it untouched for a few minutes. In a while, we can be aware that the gravel and rocks have settled below, sand on above, and so on. The garden range of mud essentially has fashioned layers of soil primarily based on varied, which is viewed below. Sedimentation can additionally be used to separate particles primarily based on size with the aid of applying the centrifugal force to the required solution. 

In the Centrifugation process, a centrifugal pressure is utilised to a heterogeneous mixture which separates the mixture primarily based on its density. The excessive dense factors stay away from the centrifugal axis, whereas the much less dense components continue to be near to the centrifugal axis via consequently setting apart the elements of the mixture.

The water treatment plant uses the sedimentation technique to pull out undesirable particles from unclean water with the aid of filtering numerous layers of soil and sand, allowing precise sizes of particles to skip through.

Sedimentation is the system that lets in the exclusive particles which are in the suspended form in water to settle under the gravitational effect. The particles which settle out from the suspension end up the sediment, whilst in water cure this is known as sludge. When this thick sediment continues to settle, this is called consolidation. In consolidation, the sediment, or sludge, which is assisted through mechanical capacity is regarded as the manner of thickening. Sedimentation for water treatment may be used to decrease the awareness of the particles in suspension before the utility of coagulation, in order to limit the amount of coagulating which the chemical substances need, or after the coagulation and, perchance after the flocculation. When the sedimentation is utilised after coagulation, this cause is finished frequently to limit the centred number of solids which are in suspension so that the subsequent filtration can function well. Sedimentation is used as one of the different software strategies prior to the system of filtration. Different methods encompass dissolving in air flotation and some other techniques of filtration. The solids-liquid separation procedures at instances are referred to as clarification processes. While there are extraordinary procedures of sedimentation like horizontal float and others which we will talk about in our further section.

Types of sedimentation

Sedimentation can happen in different ways depending on the type of mixture and particles involved. Below are the main types of sedimentation explained in simple terms.

Plain sedimentation

Plain sedimentation is the system of putting off suspended matters from the water with the aid of retaining it quiescent in tanks, so that suspended count number may settle down in the backside due to pressure of gravity. In the manner of treating water with the aid of simple sedimentation the water is retained in a basin so that the suspended particles may additionally settle down due to force of gravity only. After the contract of suspended particles has taken place, the water is taken out from the basin without inflicting any disturbance to the suspended impurities.

Plain sedimentation is appropriate for enormously pure water which includes undesirable amounts of suspended matters. Practical experience has proven that the water containing large amounts of suspended memory can be easily clarified by using sedimentation than a water containing much less suspended matter.

Sedimentation with coagulation

Suspended particles cannot be removed absolutely with the aid of plain settling. Large, heavy particles settle out readily, however smaller and lighter particles settle very slowly or in some instances do not settle at all. Because of this, the sedimentation step is generally preceded with the aid of a chemical system recognised as coagulation Coagulation is normally carried out in two stages: fast mixing and slow mixing. Rapid mixing serves to disperse the coagulants evenly at some stage in the water and to ensure a whole chemical reaction. Sometimes this is performed with the aid of adding the chemicals just earlier than the pumps, permitting the pump impellers to do the mixing.

Application of Sedimentation

Sedimentation is one of countless techniques for application prior to filtration: different picks encompass dissolved air flotation and some methods of filtration. Generically, such solids-liquid separation methods are from time to time referred to as clarification processes.In water treatment, sedimentation would possibly be used to reduce the awareness of particles in suspension before the utility of coagulation, to limit the quantity of coagulating chemical substances needed, or after coagulation and, possibly, flocculation. When sedimentation is applied after coagulation, its purpose is normally to limit the awareness of solids in suspension so that the subsequent filtration can function most effectively.

Difference between Decantation and sedimentation

Now if we talk about Decantation then it is basically a process of separating two immiscible substances from each other which is completely different from sedimentation. So here we will learn about the differences between decantation and sedimentation.

Sedimentation	Decantation
The process of deposition of settling of sediments is known as sedimentation.	The process of separating two immiscible substances is known as decantation.
It includes 2 phases: sediment in solid phase and fluid in liquid phase.	It includes either of the one phase that is either solid or liquid.
It uses gravitation or electromagnetism in the separation process.	Simply pour the two top layers of mixture to separate the substances.
This method is used for water treatment plant	This method is used to separate oil and water

Hope this article was helpful for your exam preparation. Find more of such Chemistry topics and score well in your exam with the help of carefully curated study material by the professionals available for you on Testbook. Get free assistance for your exam preparation, practice sets for exams, and personalised career guidance on the free Testbook App. Boost your exam preparation with some special offers waiting for you!

Important Links
NEET Exam
NEET Previous Year Question Papers	NEET Mock Test	NEET Syllabus
CUET Exam
CUET Previous Year Question Papers	CUET Mock Test	CUET Syllabus
JEE Main Exam
JEE Main Previous Year Question Papers	JEE Main Mock Test	JEE Main Syllabus
JEE Advanced Exam
JEE Advanced Previous Year Question Papers	JEE Advanced Mock Test	JEE Advanced Syllabus