Decantation is the process of separation of liquid from solid and other immiscible (non-mixing) liquids, by removing the liquid layer at the top from the layer of solid or liquid below.
There are two steps for decantation:
Sedimentation is the separation of mixture components based on density using gravity or a centrifuge.
Decanting is the process of pouring or syphoning off the top part of a mixture while draining the bottom part.
Principle of Decantation
Decantation works on the concept that heavier substances sink while lighter substances float.
In its most basic form, decantation employs gravity to separate a solid from a liquid.
The lighter part of the mixture is floating on the top.
A separatory funnel, on the other hand, drains the heavier component.
