Saint Louis University

School of Engineering & Architecture

Department of Chemical Engineering

Code: 2476 Reporter: ALIBUYOG, Norween Vince P.

Course No.: CH E 512 Members: RIMANDO, Jeremy E.
Schedule: 7:30-10:30 TTH CHELAB 1 ROXAS, Samuel Jade T.
Group No.: 5 VALDEZ, Claudine C.
VIERNES, Kimberly G.

Date Performed: August 10, 2017

Date Submitted: August 17, 2017

Experiment No.: 1
Experiment Title: Screening

CRITERIA POINTS SCORE

1. Report Format and Neatness
2. Objectives
3. Theoretical Background
4. Equipment and Apparatus
a. List of Equipment and apparatus and its uses
b. Experimental Set-up
5. Procedure
6. Data and Results
7. Interpretation of Results
8. Recommendations and Conclusions
9. Sample Computations
10. Answers to Study Questions
11. Appendices
a. Graphs Accompanying Data and Results
b. References
TOTAL

Instructor: Engr. Jonalyn A. Kimpay

i
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ii
LIST OF TABLES iii
LIST OF FIGURES iii
I. Objectives 1
II. Theoretical Background 1
III. Equipment and Apparatus 2

a. List of Equipment and Apparatus and its uses 2

b. Experimental Set-Up 6
IV. Procedure 8
V. Data and Results 9
VI. Interpretation of Results 10
VII. Recommendation and Conclusion 10
VIII. Sample Computation 12
IX. Answer to Study Questions 13
X. Appendices 14

a. Graphs Accompanying Data and Results 14

b. References 15

ii
 List of Tables
Table 5.1: Experimental Data 9
Table 5.2: Values Required for the Experiment 9

List of Figures
Figure 11.1: Cumulative Plot Screen Analysis Showing the Mass fraction 15
passing through the screens as a function of particle size
Figure 11.2: Plot Screen Analysis showing the cumulative mass fraction smaller 15
than Dpi as a function of particle size

I.

iii
 II. OBJECTIVES

1. To separate mixture of certain substance into uniform particle sizes using the method of

screening.

2. To obtain the differential and cumulative screen analysis of a given sample.

3. To show graphically the relationship of the particle diameter with the mass fraction, and particle

size with cumulative mass fraction.

4. To characterize a sample by determining the specific surface, particle population. And average

particle size of a sample mixture.

III. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Unit operations involve some chemical and physical transformations. One of its physical

transformations is through separation.

Screening is a separation process as it sorts out the solid particles according to their sizes. Screening

process is usually used in pharmaceutical, food, mineral and agricultural area.

Screening can be done through wet or dry screening. Wet screening is done by adding water to the

screen. This is to enlarge its capacity and improve the size separations. On the other hand, dry screening

is done without the use of water.

Screens were used in this part of unit operation. In this experiment, vibrating screens were used.

Tyler standard screen scales is the most common used screen scales. Screen mesh is a part of the screen

which metals were welded to form a wire grid. These grids were made according to a mesh size. Number

8, 14 25 and 100 was used for this experiment. These sizes can help the screening more effective. Mesh,

on the other hand, has different types. They are metal mesh, plastic mesh, fibre glass mesh, woven

mesh and mesh skin graft. Each types pertains to a specific applications. Screening can also be defined

as the particle distribution for fine and coarse particles. For the further improvement of the process,

screening efficiency can be computed - which can be defined as the ratio between the particles that

should pass the screen versus the particles that actual pass through the screens. Fine particles pass the

quickest with the highest efficiency while near size particles are the hardest to pass and pass with

reduced efficiency. (David Stairs, 2017)

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 III. EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS

A. LIST OF EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS

Name of equipment
Set up Uses
or apparatus

Mortar is a receptacle in

which the chalk is to be

crushed with a pestle.

Mortar and Pestle
While pestle is a tool used

to crush the chalk in a

mortar.

2
 3

Brush is use to clean the

Brush mortar and pestle, and

sieve series.

Sieve series are composed

Sieve series of individual screens with

different aperture.
 4

Sieve shaker is use to

shake the sieve series, the

purpose of shaking is to

Sieve Shaker apply force to the series

for the chalk to easily pass

through in the individual

screens at a time.

Chalk is to be ground or

crush in the mortar using

Chalk
pestle. And to be screen in

the sieve series.

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Analytical balance is use to

weigh the chalk before

and after crushing, and

Analytical balance
use for constant weighing

of the chalk in performing

the screening experiment.

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B. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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 IV. PROCEDURE

We weighed 400 grams of chalk in the analytical balance. We used mortar and pestle in grinding

the chalk. We pulverized the chalk by crushing. After pulverizing the chalk we weighed the crushed chalk

to get the actual weigh before screening.

We cleaned with a brush the individual screens comprising #8, #14, #25, #100 screen. And we

assured that there were no adhering particles on the screens. We weighed the individual screens that

comprise the series. We nested together individual screens with the coarser at the top and the finest at

the bottom. A bottom pan and top cover were put in the place to complete the set. We placed the

weighted crushed chalk upon the top screen and replaced the cover.

We placed the screen set-up on the sieve shaker and then we set the time of the sieve shaker for

15 minutes run. Then we pushed the button to stop the shaking. We removed the bottom pan and

weighed the crushed chalk that was passed through #100 sieve screen after 15 minutes run. We

replaced it back to the series and repeat shaking for another 5 minutes and again we weighed the

crushed chalk that was passed through #100 sieve screen. We repeated the shaking and weighing until

the weight of the bottom pan became constant. The constant weight of the crushed chalk at the bottom

pan indicates that the separation is already complete. We disassembled the sieves and weighed the

individual fractions by difference. We recorded the weight of the chalk retained in each screen and the

total time of screening. We calculated the values required for the experiment in table form and

determined the specific surface, volume-surface mean diameter and the number of particles in a specific

fraction.

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 V. DATA AND RESULTS

Mass total of chalk before crushing: 400.16 g

Mass total of chalk before screening: 398.73 g

Mass total of chalk after screening: 395.53 g

Total time of screening: 25 minutes

Total time of screening including weighing: 30 minutes

Table 5.1 : Experimental Data

Screen Mesh Screen Ave Mass Cumulative Mass Aperture

opening Dpi , Fraction Fraction
Dpi , mm mm Sample Sample cm Micrometer
larger smaller
than than
size size
noted noted
8 2.36 1.88 0.6623 0.6623 0.3377 0.081 815
5
14 1.40 1.055 0.1188 0.7811 0.2189 0.041 414
4
25 0.71 0.43 0.1170 0.8981 0.1019 0.030 306
6
100 0.15 --- 0.0989 0.997 3x10-3 0.010 104
4

Table 5.2: Values Required For the Experiment

Density of the Chalk = 1.61 g/cm3

Screen Mesh Vp , cm3 Number of Total Surface Area

Particles in the A, cm2
Sample N
8 0.0131 12520.0322 4169.8073
14 2.744x10-3 10724.6980 1261.2245
25 3.5791x10-4 80973.8942 2449.1296
100 3.375x10-6 7311709.225 9796.2733

Specific surface mixture, Aw = 44.3335 cm2/g

Volume-surface mean diameter, Ds = 0.8406 mm

Arithmetic mean diameter, DN = 0.1617 mm

Mass mean diameter, Dw = 1.8273 mm

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Volume mean diameter, Dv = 0.3228 mm

Number of particles in a mixture, Nw = 18462.2870

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 VI. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

The experiment was performed to separate a mixture of a certain substance into uniform

particles using the method of screening. With the data gathered by the group, it was found out that as

the mesh number increases the mass and the mass fraction decreases. Also, as the screen opening

decreases the mass fraction also decreases. It was also found out that the screen mesh number is

directly proportional with the cumulative mass fraction that is sample larger than the size noted and

inversely proportional to the cumulative mass fraction sample smaller than size noted. The group also

computed the aperture of a given mesh. We found out that as the screen mesh number increases, the

aperture decreases. Several values were also computed by the group in order to know the mixed particle

size and the average particle size. With the objective to characterize a sample by different parameters, it

was satisfied by the group.

VII. RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

Screening is the separation of materials on the basis of size. It is accomplished by passing the

material over a surface provided with openings of the desired size separating a mixture of various sizes of

particles into two or more portions, each of which is more uniform in size than the original mixture. There

are two methods for the presentation of the size distribution of particles, one is by differential screen

analysis and another by cumulative screen analysis. Differential screen analysis is the percentage of

particles from the total that are within a specified size range; whereas, cumulative screen analysis is the

sum of the differential distributions and obtained by accumulation of differential distribution. From the

researchers performance of the experiment, 66.23% of the particles are in mesh #8, 11.88% of the

particles are in mesh #14, 11.70% of the particles are in mesh #25 and 9.89% of the particles are in

mesh #100. The specific surface mixture is 44.33 cm 2/g, volume-surface mean diameter is 0.84 mm,

arithmetic mean diameter is .16 mm, mass mean diameter is 1.83 mm, volume mean diameter is 0.32

mm and number of particles in the mixture is 18,462. Screening is a an important mechanical separation

method of great use in engineering as it is a means of preparing a product for sale or for subsequent

operation, it is the most widely used means of analysis, and it is used to determine the value of a product

for some specific application.

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The following are recommendations formed by the group:

1. The researchers recommend the use of other pulverizable materials, other than chalk, for the

procedure of screening. A grinder would be suitable to use if there shall be the use of another

material such as stone or coal.

2. The researchers hope to see other methods of screening be performed using different sizes of

sieves and apply the computations done in the former.

3. The researchers would want to see if the shaking were done manually by the researchers rather

than by the machine to check the efficiency of the machine in comparison to human effort.

4. With the researchers performing the experiment on a 5-minute interval, the researchers would

like to see the impact of varying the intervals by 10 to 15-mins to check if the measured weights

would become different.

5. It is recommended by the researchers that as much as possible less loss by mechanical

pulverizing of the chalk be done to yield more accurate results.

 VIII. SAMPLE COMPUTATION

Mass of samplethe mesh after screening

Mass fraction=
Mass total before screening

264.06 g
Mass fraction= =0.6623
398.73 g

47.38 g
Mass fraction= =0.1188
398.73 g

46.66 g
Mass fraction= =0.1170
398.73 g

39.43 g
Mass fraction= =0.0989
398.73 g

1 = Mesh Number x (Aperture + Screen Opening in Inches)

1 (2.54/1)= 8 x (Aperture + 2.36(1/10))

Aperture =0.0815 cm

m
N=
p v

N = 264.06/[(1.61)(0.0131)] = 12520.0322

6m
A=
v

A= 6(264.06)/[1.61(2.36/10)]

A= 4169.8073 cm2

6x1 6 x2 6 x3 6x4
A w= + + +
D1 D2 D3 D4

Aw= 44.3335 cm2/g

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 X. ANSWERS TO STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What is the significance of screening?

Screening is significant in maintaining the quality of the materials used in the production and

manufacturing process by ensuring that these materials meet standard particle size. This ensures the

safety of all process equipment used. Furthermore, certain reactions are carried out in specific conditions

in which having a uniform particle size helps make the process more efficient.

2. Give examples of industries in which screening is seen very useful?

Screening is essential in industries like mining, pharmaceutical, cement, plastics, agriculture, waste water

treatment and the like.

3. Differentiate aperture, mesh number and screen interval.

Screen aperture pertains to the clearing between the individual wires of the screen. On the other hand,

mesh number pertains to the number of aperture per linear inch of the screen. Finally, screen interval is

the relationship between the successive sizes of the screen openings in the series.

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 XI. APPENDICES

a. Graphs Accompanying Data and Results

Figure 11.1 : Cumulative Plot of screen analysis showing the mass fraction passing through
the screens as a function of the particle size.
1.2

Cumulative Mass
Fraction 0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Particle Size
Figure 11.2 : Cumulative Mass Fraction Smaller than Dpi as a function of particle size
0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

Cumulative Mass 0.2

Fraction
0.15
Smaller Than Dpi

0.1

0.05

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Particle Size

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b. References
1 S. Dhodapkar The Dow Chemical Company, L. Bates Ajax Equipment, G. Klinzing
Univ (2007). Dry Screening: Sorting Out The Basic Concepts. Retrieved from
http://www.chemengonline.com/dry-screening-sorting-out-the-basic-concepts/?
printmode=1
2 Stairs, David (2017). Screening 101. Retrieved from
http://aeiscreens.com/screening-101/
3 Wolff, Ernst R. (1954). Screening Principles and Applications. Ind. Eng. Chem.,
pp 17781784 Retrieved from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie50537a024