Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University

LABORATORY REPORT EVALUATION SHEET

Laboratory Course: CHE 512 Schedule: 7:30-10:30 MW

Experiment Number: 1
Experiment Title: Screening
Group Number: 4 Date Performed: January 29, 2020
Group Members: DE LEON, Isaiah A. Date Submitted: February 17, 2020
CATOLICO, Casey E.
CUMILANG, Rendyll Keith F.
DEL PILAR, Jershey Micaela M.
DE GUZMAN, Nicole DL.

CONTENTS TOTAL REMARKS SCORE

POINT
S
I. Abstract 10
II. Chapter 1: Introduction 15
III. Chapter 2: Design and Methodology 10
IV. Chapter 3: Results and Discussion 20
V. Chapter 4: Conclusion and 10
Recommendation
VI. References 5
VII. Appendices 15
a. List and Uses of Apparatus
b. Definition of Terms
c. Computations
d. Documentation
e. Problems
VIII. Table of contents/list of tables/list of 5
figures
IX. Format and Neatness 10

TOTAL POINTS: 100 SCORE: ________

i
 Screening

A Laboratory Report Presented to the

Faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

By

De Leon, Isaiah A.

Catolico, Casey E.

Cumilang, Rendyll Keith F.

De Guzman, Trizia Nicole DL.

Del Pilar, Jershey Micaela M.

February 2020

i
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

TABLE OF CONTENTS ii

LIST OF TABLES iii

LIST OF FIGURES iv

ABSTRACT v

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1

Chapter 2: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3

Chapter 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4

Chapter 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 9

REFERENCES 10

APPENDICES

Appendix A 11

Appendix B 12

Appendix C 13

Appendix D 15

Appendix E 17

ii
 LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Weight of the bottom pan after each trial 4

Table 3.2 Weight of chalk in each screen 4

Table 3.3 Experimental Data 5

Table 3.4 Data for the specific surface, volume-surface mean diameter, and the number of

particles in a specific fraction

iii
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1. Cumulative Analysis Graph 8

Figure 1.2 Weighing crushed chalk 17

Figure 1.3 Screens loaded onto a gyratory equipment 17

iv
 ABSTRACT
THE FOLLOWING EXPERIMENT WAS PERFORMED TO OBSERVE THE
PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE USE OF SCREENS. CRUSHED CHALKS WERE USED AS
FEED INTO SCREENS OF INCREASING MESH NUMBER. A GYRATORY
EQUIPMENT IS USED TO AID IN SETTLING OF THE CHALK PARTICLES. AFTER
SHAKING THE STACKED SCREENS, PARTICLES THAT REMAIN ON EACH
SCREEN ARE REMOVED AND WEIGHED. DATA GATHERED ARE THEN USED
FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PARTICLE SIZE, AND PLOTTING OF SCREEN
ANALYSIS.
Keywords: Screening, Gyratory equipment, Screen

v
 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Mechanical separations can be divided into four groups – sedimentation, centrifugal

separation, filtration and sieving. The techniques of mechanical separation are based on

differences in phase density, in phase fluidity, and in such mechanical properties of particles-

as size, shape, and density; and on such particle characteristics as wettability, surface charge and

magnetic susceptibility. Obviously, such techniques are applicable only to the separation of

phases in a heterogeneous mixture. They may be applied, however, to all kinds of

mixtures containing two or more phases, whether they are liquid-liquid, liquid-gas, liquid-

solid, gas-solid, solid-solid, or gas-liquid-solid (McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopaedia of

Engineering, n.d.)

Screening is a method of separating particles according to size alone. In industrial

screening the solids are dropped on, or thrown against, a screening surface. The undersize, or

fines, pass through the screen openings; oversize, or tails, do not. A single screen can make but a

single separation into two fractions. These are called unsized fractions, because although either

the upper or lower limit of the particle sizes they contain is known, the other limit is unknown.

Material passed through a series of screens of different sizes is separated into sized fractions, i.e.,

fractions in which both the maximum and minimum particle sizes are known. Screening is

occasionally done wet but much more commonly dry. (McCabe-Smith 5th ed)

Mechanical screening is a separation of materials on the basis of size as a means of

preparing a product for subsequent operation. This practice occurs in variety of industries such as

mining and mineral processing, agriculture, pharmaceutical, food, plastics and recycling.

1
 Screen size or mesh needed for the computation of particle size must be confirmed, the

lowest being the top while the highest at the bottom. This experiment aims to separate chalk dust

into uniform particle sizes using method of screening. Another one is to obtain differential and

cumulative screen analysis of a given sample. Showing graphical relationships of the particle

diameter with the mass fraction, and particle size with cumulative mass fraction and to

characterize a sample by determining the specific surface, particle population and average

particle size of chalk. Using sieve series and sieve shaker, the experiment will be conducted and

proper series of methods will be held. After conducting the said methods, data will be gathered

for the computations needed.

Screening is important for the segregation of particles size you needed. It also helps in

the accurate results you wanted. The researchers need to weigh and shake the sieve shaker until

the weight of the bottom pan becomes constant.

2
 Chapter 2

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

In this experiment, the researchers were given a certain amount of chalk to be used. The

researchers then crushed the chalk using mortar and pestle then weigh it in a digital balance.

Using the brush, they cleaned the individual screens comprising the entire series. They made sure

that there are no adhering particles on the screens. Individual screens that compromise the series

are weigh. The individual screens with the coarser at the top and the finest at the bottom were

nest together. The bottom of the pan and the top cover are put in place to complete the set. The

researchers then placed the weighed amount of crushed chalk upon the top screen and replace the

cover. They placed the screen set-up on the sieve shaker and then pushed the start button. Set the

sieve shaker for ten minutes then wait for 10 minutes. After then push the button to stop shaking.

Remove the bottom pan and weigh. Replace it back to the series and repeat shaking. Make sure

to tighten the sieve shaker every now and then to make sure the larger particles don’t fall in the

last mesh. Run the system for 10 minutes and again weigh the bottom pan. Repeat shaking and

weighing until the weight of the bottom pan becomes constant. This indicates that the separation

is complete. The researchers disassembled the sieves and weigh the individual fractions by

difference. Record the weight of the substance retained in each screen and the total time of

screening. After all the steps, they calculated the values required for the experiment in table

form. From this, they prepared the following: a) cumulative plot of screen analysis showing the

mass fraction passing through the screens as a function of the particle size. b) a plot of screen

analysis showing the cumulative mass fraction smaller than the Dpi as a function of particle size.

3
The researchers also determined the following: a) the specific surface b) the volume-surface

mean diameter and c) the number of particles in a specific fraction.

Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Following the procedures in the experiment for screening, the following data were

obtained and listed in the tables below.

Table 3.1. Weight of the bottom pan after each trial

Trial Mass, g

1 497.7
2 497.9
3 498.2
4 498.4
5 498.5
6 498.6
7 498.6

Table 3.2. Weight of chalk in each screen

Screen Mesh No. Initial Weight, g Final Weight, g Difference, g

8 464.9 513.5 48.6

14 430.3 464.4 34.1
25 400.7 425.0 24.3
35 403.2 412.7 9.5
50 385.7 391.3 5.6
Bottom Pan 494.4 498.6 4.2

4
 Mtotal of chalk before crushing: 127.8 g Mtotal of chalk before screening: 126.6 g

Mtotal of chalk after screening: 126.3 g

Table 3.1 and 3.2 presented the data obtained from weighing and screening of pulverized

chalk. The screens (with their own mesh numbers as a pointer) were arranged in a decreasing gap

size. It can be seen from the data that the mesh number 8 screen has the highest amount of

oversized chalk particles obtained. Also, succeeding screens collected chalk in accordance with

their particle diameter that fits the opening until a constant amount of chalk is acquired at the

pan.

Table 3.3. Experimental data

Cumulative Mass
Aperture
Fraction
Screen Mass
Screen Average Sample Sample
Opening Fraction,
Mesh Dpi, mm larger smaller
Dpi, mm g cm Micrometer
than size than size

noted noted

8 2.3600 2.3600 0.3839 0.3839 0.6161 0.0815 815.3400

14 1.4000 1.8800 0.2694 0.6533 0.3467 0.0414 414.0200
25 0.7100 1.0550 0.1919 0.8452 0.1584 0.0305 304.8000
35 0.5000 0.6050 0.0750 0.9202 0.0798 0.0226 225.7146
50 0.3000 0.4000 0.0442 0.9644 0.0356 0.0208 208.0006
Bottom
̶ 0.1500 0.0332 0.9976 0.0024 ̶ ̶
Pan

5
 Table 3.3 shows the data calculated based from the distinctive screen openings. The

determined values were average screen opening, mass fraction, cumulative mass fraction, and

aperture. Screen of mesh number 8 has the highest mass fraction value indicating the proportion

of mass of the chalk collected in the screen to the mass of chalk before screening. Screen mesh

number 8 has the highest aperture making it the coarsest screen while screen mesh number 50

has the lowest aperture making it the finest screen.

Table 3.4. Data for the specific surface, volume-surface mean diameter, and the number of

particles in a specific fraction

Specific Surface, Volume-Surface Number of Particles

Screen Mesh No.
mm2 / g Mean Diameter in a Specific Fraction

8 1635.4642 1.3893 2664.7520 ≈ 2665

14 1635.4642 1.3893 3698.6360 ≈ 3699
25 1635.4642 1.3893 48931.2974 ≈ 48932
35 1635.4642 1.3893 54773.3238 ≈ 54774
50 1635.4642 1.3893 149478.8564 ≈ 149479
Bottom Pan 1635.4642 1.3893 896873.1384 ≈ 896874

6
 Characterization of the sample such as the specific surface, volume-surface mean

diameter, and the number of particles in a specific fraction was shown in table 3.4. The specific

surface of the sieve series was 1635.4642 mm 2/g. The volume-surface mean diameter which has

a value of 1.3893 specifies the average particle size of the chalk. The quantity of particles is the

number of constituent particles present in the system. Also, an accumulation in each screen

indicates a not uniformly crushed chalk.

Figure 1.1. Cumulative Analysis Graph

Figure 1.1 shows the particle size distribution analysis.

7
 Chapter 4

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The researchers recorded the initial weight of the material to be used and placed it in the

sieve shaker for 10-15 minutes. After the allotted time, the researcher then weigh the bottom pan.

This process was done repeatedly until the bottom pan held a constant weight. After having a

constant weight, the individual pan weights were recorded. The data gathered were used to

characterize the material. After conducting the experiment, the researchers were able to separate

a mixture of a certain substance into a uniform particle size using the screening method and

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

Based on the data gathered from the experiment, it showed that the particle diameter

affects the mean diameter. The plotted data of the particle size versus the mass fraction of the

chalk that remained in the screen show a divergent relationship. Thus, the researchers deduce

8
that the size particle is not directly proportional to the mass fraction of the chalk remaining from

the screen since it did not show a linear relationship.

The researchers recommend to sufficiently clean the sieves in order to obtain a more

accurate data. The sieves should also be stacked tightly and properly in order to avoid it from

moving away during the shaking process. It is also advised to clean the area around the digital

balance to get a more accurate readings of the weights.

REFERENCES

Patil, K. (2007). Mechanical Operations Fundamental Principles and Applications. Pune, India:
Nirali Prakashan.
Mechanical separation techniques. (n.d.) McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Engineering.
(2002). Retrieved September 4 2019 from
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mechanical+separation+techniques

9
 APPENDIX A

LIST AND USES OF APPARATUS

 Sieve series
A mesh strainer, also known as sift, is a device for separating wanted elements from
unwanted material or for characterizing the particle size distribution of a sample,
typically using a woven screen such as mesh.

 Digital Balance
It is an instrument which is used to determine the weight or mass of an object.

 Brush
It is a common tool with bristles, used for cleaning or scrubbing.

 Mortar and Pestle

Is used to grind up solid chemicals into fine powder and crush solids into smaller pieces.

 Sieve shaker

10
 Sieve shaker is an instrument that used in particle analysis. It is used to shake a stack of
test sieves which are placed in order (largest aperture on the top and smallest on the
bottom), so that materials get sifted through according to particle sizes.

 Chalk
Chalk is variety of limestone composed mainly of calcium carbonate derived from the
shells of tiny marine animals. It is usually white or light gray in color.

APPENDIX B

DEFINITION OF TERMS

 Screen Mesh- Refers to the number of screen opening per unit length of area. The actual-
openings are smaller than those corresponding to the Mesh numbers because of the
thickness of the wires.

 Screening- It is mechanically method of separating a mixture of solid particles into

fraction by size.

 Undersize - Particles falling through the screen.

 Oversize or tails- Particles retained on a screen

11
 APPENDIX C

COMPUTATIONS

For average D pi: Ave D pi= ( D p , n−1 + D p , n) /2

Mesh 14: (1.4+2.36) / 2 =1.88mm Mesh 50: (0.5+0.3) / 2 =0.4mm

Mesh 25: (1.4+0.710) / 2 =1.055mm Pan: (0.3) / 2 =0.15mm

Mesh 35: (0.710+0.5) / 2 =0.605mm

For mass fraction: X i = m i / m total

Mesh 8: 48.6 / 126.6 = 0.6861 Mesh 35: 9.5/ 126.6 = 0.0750

Mesh 14: 34.1 / 126.6 = 0.2694 Mesh 50: 5.6/ 126.6 = 0.0442

Mesh 25: 24.3 / 126.6 = 0.1919 Pan: 4.2 / 126.6 = 0.0332

For cumulative mass fraction:

Sample larger than size noted = (m n−1 + m n) / m total

12
 Sample smaller than size noted = 1- X i Sample larger than size noted

Mesh 8:

Sample larger than size noted = (48.6) / 126.6 = 0.3839

Sample smaller than size noted = 1-0.3839 =0.6161

Mesh 14:

Sample larger than size noted = (48.6+34.1) / 126.6 = 0.6532

Sample smaller than size noted = 1-0.6532 =0.3468

Mesh 25:

Sample larger than size noted = (48.6+34.1+24.3) / 126.6 = 0.8452

Sample smaller than size noted = 1-0.8452 =0.1548

Mesh 35:

Sample larger than size noted = (48.6+34.1+24.3+9.5) 126.6 = 0.9202

Sample smaller than size noted = 1-0.9202=0.0798

Mesh 50:

Sample larger than size noted = (48.6+34.1+24.3+9.5+5.6) / 126.6 = 0.9645

Sample smaller than size noted = 1-0.9645=0.0355

Pan:

Sample larger than size noted = (48.6+34.1+24.3+9.5+5.6+4.2) / 126.6= 1

Sample smaller than size noted = 1-1 =0

For Aperture: 1” = M(A+D)

Mesh 8: A= [(1/8) -2.36/25.4] (2.54) = 0.0815cm

Mesh 14: A= [(1/14) -1.4003/25.4] (2.54) = 0.0414cm

Mesh 25: A= [(1/25) -0.711/25.4] (2.54) = 0.305cm

13
Mesh 35: A= [(1/35) -0.4997/25.4] (2.54) =0.0226cm

Mesh 50: A= [(1/50) -0.3/25.4] (2.54) = 0.0208cm

APPENDIX D

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. What is the significance of screening?

a. Produce a product with a desired particle distribution or characteristics

b. Split a feed stream to separate processing lines

c. Remove fines

d. Remove finished product prior to an additional reduction step

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

a. Aggregate: Responsible for moving nearly three billion tons of sand, stone, and gravel

per year, the aggregate industry depends on rugged and dependable shaker equipment to

supply its end users with quality material meeting specific particle size requirements.

b. Pharmaceutical: Leading edge technology and material processes drive this

industry to supply a wide range of consumable goods primarily for healthcare.

14
 Research, discovery, and development push engineers to design efficient facilities

that utilize the best manufacturing practices available including strict sanitation

requirements and ultrafine screening techniques.

c. Ceramics Industries: Ceramics can be found in structural products, white wares, and even

microchips and automotive components. This industry is continually growing and evolving to

adapt to its end users’ needs. Particle size separation is a vital step to ensure quality and purity

of the finished product.

3. Differentiate aperture, mesh number and screen interval.

Aperture is the measure of the mesh screen opening. Mesh number is the

measure of fineness of a mesh: the numerical value indicates the number of

openings per linear inch. The smaller the mesh number, the larger particles can

pass through the mesh. Screen interval is the quality of mesh screen expressed in

range of particle size passing through the screen.

15
 APPENDIX E

DOCUMENTATION

Figure 1.2 Weighing crushed chalk Figure 1.3 Screens loaded onto a
gyratory equipment

16