Separation of Sawdust and Sand?

Question

Hey!

Today, in my ninth grade Lab assignment, we were asked to experiment and discover how to seperate different materials from one another.

My partner and I eventually sperated all of them (even sawdust and sand) but my teacher said that there was a better way to separate them.

If you know a better way to seperate sawdust and sand, I'd appreciate help.

Thank You! =^o^=

Oh, I forgot to mention that *how* we separated them.

My parnter and I separated these things by puring in some water, allowing most of the sawdust to float and scooping up and the pieces.

Next we filtered the remaining water (it took a long time) and took the rest of the sawdust pieces that were left on the filter.

The sand stayed on the bottom, naturally.

Answer 1

place it on a screen and hold it over a flame.

Answer 2

Do you have to show the sawdust after separation? If not, fire. The sawdust should burnup and leave the sand behind. The problem with water is the saw dust sticks to the sand. Remember, wood does sink eventually. Wind would work, but sand can blow just as easily.

Answer 3

It's called winnowing. Toss the sand/sawdust mixture up into a gentle breeze and the sawdust will be blown aside while the heavier sand will fall almost straight down. This is how the ancients separated the wheat from the chaff.

Answer 4

maybe put the mixture in a "panning for gold" type pan and shake it and the sand willl separte from the sawdust ((it's a lot lighter))

oh ... don't use water in the pan ... just shake the dry mixture

not really sure if it'll work ...


another way might be to put the mixture into a salt-shaker and shake it .. the sand will come out but (mostly) I'd think the sawdust willl stay behind

[make smmmmaaalllll holes if the ordinary ones don't work too well]

good luck

Answer 5

The best way I can think of is to throw it into a pail of water. The sawdust will float and the sand will sink to the bottom.

Answer 6

A good way is to blow the sawdust off the sand.
Agitate the sand and blow again.
agitate the sand and blow again. It is the basis for "Winnowing" wheat from Chaff in the old days

Answer 7

I would try to separate them by using a sieve made of fly screen wire.
the sand will flow through, but the sawdust will be too large to go through the holes.

Answer 8

I disagree with your teacher. You used the best method but had not yet refined the technique. You exploited the physical differences of the two materials to allow them to be separates. More water and stirring may have made the technique more effective or easier but the method would be the same.