Elutor

An 'elutor' is a device or method used to separate particles of different densities or sizes suspended in a liquid. This process, known as elutriation, involves washing or flushing a solid material to sort the components by their settling rates. It's commonly used in fields like mineral processing, sedimentology, and biological research. The efficiency of an elutor depends on factors such as the flow rate of the liquid, the shape and size of the particles, and the density differences between the particles and the liquid medium. It is a crucial process in laboratories and industries where separation of mixed solids is necessary. The equipment can range from simple beakers and pipettes to sophisticated specialized instruments.

Elutor meaning with examples

• The geologist used an elutor to separate the fine sand particles from the heavier minerals, allowing him to analyze the sediment composition with greater precision. This revealed valuable information about the sedimentary history of the rock formation and its origins. By controlling the water flow, he was able to isolate specific grain sizes.
• In the pharmaceutical industry, an elutor is used to separate cell components for downstream analysis or for the purification of protein products. This purification step is vital for research. The gentle washing ensures minimal damage to the cellular material, a crucial element in the process.
• During gold mining, elutors are implemented to recover fine gold particles from the crushed ore. The method utilizes the flow of water to separate the heavier gold from lighter waste materials, ensuring efficient extraction. This technique allows for higher recovery rate compared to other methods, like panning, ensuring the precious metal is collected.
• The archaeologist employed an elutor to carefully separate tiny artifacts, like pottery shards and seeds, from the surrounding soil. The method facilitated the retrieval of delicate objects from the excavated materials. Without the use of an elutor many artifacts may be overlooked and missed in the archaeological process, or be damaged with coarser techniques.