Sieving

Technology
Technology details
Name:	Sieving
Category:	Pre-processing (Separation technologies), Post-processing (Separation technologies)
Feedstock:	all solid materials
Product:	separated products

Sieving is a simple technique for classifying and separating particles of different sizes. Sieving has been around since the time of the ancient Egyptians and can be considered the backbone of particle size technology. Sieving’s continuing popularity is due to the technique’s fundamentally simple principle and methodology, historical reference, and cost effectiveness. Several instrument components involved in a sieve analysis can be quality controlled, making the technique applicable to various industries including pharmaceutical, industrial, agricultural, and chemical. In food industries sieves (often vibrating) are used to prevent the contamination of the product by foreign bodies. The main method is separation of product(s) into different fractions according to the particle size. Particles with a size bigger than the mesh of the used sieve will be withheld and smaller particles will fall through.

Feedstock

Sieving process

Origin and composition

The sieving method is used to separate different components from a solid mixture via separating particles of different sizes. The feedstock composition therefore is a mixture of materials of different particle size e.g. coming from a sizing pro-treatment or a drying process.

Pre-treatment

For sieving no specific pre-treatment is needed since it is used to separate different fraction within a process chain. Sometimes it is combined with other separation technologies or the particle mixtures need to be dry.

Process and technologies

While sieving may appear rudimentary compared to more modern instrumental particle sizing techniques, it still requires several important considerations to obtain the best repeatable and precise results.  Several factors must be considered when developing a robust sieving method or performing a routine quality analysis. Sample size, sieving duration, controlled agitation parameters and end point determination are all critical method variables which need to be addressed.

Sieve analysis

Sieving analysis

A sieve analysis (or gradation test) is a practice to assess the particle size distribution (also called gradation) of a granular material by allowing the material to pass through a series of sieves of progressively smaller mesh size and weighing the amount of material that is stopped by each sieve as a fraction of the whole mass.

Several mechanisms are used to disperse the sample and transport it through the screens (i.e. vibration, air entrainment or flowing liquid).  While considered relatively low resolution, sieving’s practical applications lend itself well to quality control specifications.

Products

Since sieving only is a method to classify particles by size there is no specific product from this technology. The process results in more homogenous material composition in the different fractions that can be used for further processing.

Post-treatment

The post-treatment of the different products are depending on the next steps within the production chain.

Technology providers

Technology comparison

Company name	Country	Technology category	Technology name	TRL	Capacity [kg/h]	Pore size [µm]	Feedstock: Food waste	Feedstock: Garden & park waste
Company 1	[Country HQ location]	[Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]		●	●
Company 2	[Country HQ location]	[(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter Process and technologies)]	[Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]	[4-9]	[numeric value]		●	●

Genesis Process Solutions

Particle classification, sieving provider

General information
Company:	Genesis Process Solutions
Country:	United Kingdom
Contact:	info@genesisps.co.uk
Webpage:	https://www.genesisps.co.uk
Technology and process details
Technology name:	Artisan Range	Technology category:	Pre-processing (Separation technologies), Post-processing (Separation technologies)
TRL:	9	Capacity:	kg·h-1
Pore size:	µm	Sieve material:
Sieve type:		Surface area:	m2
		Other:
Feedstock and product details
Feedstock:		Product:

Genesis Process Solutions was established in 2007 with the aim of bringing new concepts and innovative thinking to the bulk materials handling industry. Founded by two former Brabender Technologie employees, Neil Eardley and Phil Cameron, experience of the equipment and the various industries is the key to our success. With a combined experience of over forty years in the powder handling industry, it is the ideal platform on which to base the company strategy. We strive on giving the best possible service and therefore, so much experience of the Brabender equipment is vital. Our aim is to meet customer demands for high service levels combined with the ability to provide the right solutions for an ever increasingly difficult market place.

Since we started in 2007, we have continued the good work of Brabender along with growing at a steady rate and bringing new products - such as Krause flexible silos - to the market place. We work with many blue chip companies as well as companies with one person, this way we can cover as many of the different sectors within industry as possible. Recently added to our excellent portfolio are three companies : Sinfimasa (screw conveyors), Liftvrac (tubular belt conveyor) and most recently Bay Plastics Machinery (strand pelletizers for plastics).

Retsch GmbH

https://www.retsch.com/products/sieving/sieve-shakers/

Fritsch GmbH

https://www.fritsch-international.com/sample-preparation/sieving/

Humboldt

https://www.humboldtmfg.com/humboldt-motorized-economy-sieve-shaker.html

W.S. Tyler

https://wstyler.com/particle-analysis/

Van Borselen

https://www.vanborselen.nl/uk/multi-motion-zeefmachine.html

Russell Finex Limited

https://www.russellfinex.com/en/separation-equipment/sieving-machines/

Open access pilot and demo facility providers

Pilots4U Database

Patents

Currently no patents have been identified.

References

• Sieving in Wikipedia
• Sieve analysis