Decantation is a process of separating 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. It is a manual process that can be carried out by tilting the mixture after pouring out the top layer. Decantation can also be used to separate two liquids that do not mix with each other, such as oil and water. The process of separation of solid impurities from the liquid solution is also termed as decantation.
In simpler words, decantation is a process where liquid can be separated from sediments or another immiscible liquid with different density manually. It is widely used in laboratories, and the test tube is placed at 45° to allow effective sedimentation before performing the decantation process. A centrifuge can be utilized if the natural settling process feels time-consuming or tedious.
Examples of solutions where decantation can be used include mud in the water, grease on top of the soup, liquid from mustard, and a mixture of oil and water. Decantation is a simple and effective method of separating liquids from solids or other liquids, and it is widely used in various fields such as chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
