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Difficulty: MediumIndustrial Applications of Separation Methods

Match each industrial separation requirement on the left with its corresponding separation technique applied in chemical manufacturing on the right.

  • Extraction of heat-sensitive essential oils from plant leavesSteam distillation
  • Concentration of low-grade copper sulfide ore from silicate gangueFroth flotation
  • Recovery of residual vegetable oil from pressed oilseed cakeSolvent extraction
  • Large-scale harvesting of sodium chloride from seawater brineSolar evaporative crystallization

Answer

The extraction of heat-sensitive essential oils matches steam distillation; the concentration of low-grade copper sulfide ore matches froth flotation; the recovery of residual vegetable oil from oilseed cake matches solvent extraction; and the harvesting of sodium chloride from seawater brine matches solar evaporative crystallization.
Each industrial process matches a specific physical property of the mixture: steam distillation isolates thermolabile oils without heat damage; froth flotation separates sulfide ores from rock gangue based on differential surface wettability; solvent extraction uses non-polar liquids like hexane to dissolve residual oils from crushed seeds; and solar evaporative crystallization deposits sodium chloride salts as water evaporates naturally from brine.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the separation technique suitable for thermolabile volatile compounds.
Essential oils decompose when heated directly to high temperatures, making steam distillation the ideal process because steam lowers the effective boiling temperature of immiscible volatile liquids.
Reduces thermal degradation of delicate plant extracts.
2
Determine the ore beneficiation method based on surface wettability.
Copper sulfide minerals are hydrophobic and readily adhere to air bubbles generated in a froth flotation cell, while hydrophilic rock gangue sinks to the bottom.
Exploits differences in surface tension and hydrophobic properties.
3
Analyze how residual non-polar compounds are extracted from solid agricultural residue.
Solvent extraction using non-polar organic solvents (e.g., hexane) efficiently dissolves lipids from oilseed cakes where mechanical pressing is insufficient.
Utilizes selective solubility in organic solvents.
4
Select the industrial technique for salt recovery from saline water.
Solar evaporative crystallization uses solar radiation to continuously remove water from seawater until sodium chloride exceeds its solubility product and precipitates out.
Cost-effective, large-scale crystallization driven by solar evaporation.

Key Concept

Industrial applications of separation methods based on physical properties such as thermal stability, surface wettability, solubility, and volatility.
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Industrial Applications of Separation Methods