Cleaning, Sorting & Grading of Raw Materials

(1) Cleaning: By this process contaminants are separated from the raw material.
(2) Sorting: In this process raw materials are separated into categories of
different physical characteristics such as size, shape and colour.
(3) Grading: In his process the raw materials are separated into categories of
different quality.
Function of cleaning:
It has two main objectives.
1. The removal of contaminants which constitute a health hazard or which are
aesthetically unacceptable.
2. The control of microbiological loads and chemical and biochemical
reactions which impair subsequent process effectiveness and product quality.
Method of Cleaning:
The methods in use fall into two groups.
(1) Dry method / cleaning: Screening, brushing, aspiration, abrasion, magnetic
separation.
(2) Wet method / cleaning: Soaking, spraying, flotation, filtration, settling,
fluming.

Comparison between dry and wet methods

Cleaning methods
Dry cleaning

Advantages
(1) Low plant cost
(2) Cleaned surface dry
(3) Concentrated effluent
easily disposed off
(4) Plant easily cleaned
(5) Chemical and
microbiological activity
minimized.

Wet cleaning

(1) Adherent soil efficiently

removed
(2) Flexible cleaning- use
of heat, detergents,
sterilants
(3) Dustless
(4) Product damage often
minimized

Disadvantages
(1) Dusty- personal
hazard; explosion
hazard;
recommendation
hazard
(2) Product damage often
high
(3) Adherent soil
insufficiently removed
(1) Chemical and
microbiological
activity accelerated.
(2) High water cost
(3) Dilute, voluminous,
highly polluting,
effluent generated
(4) Cleaned surface wet,
costly after processing
e.g. drying,
dewatering necessary
(5) Equipment cleaning
and sanitation difficult
may cause product
recontamination.