Question

Which of the following process is used to separate butter and butter milk from curd?
1. Distillation
2. Centrifugation
3. Magnetic Separation
4. Sublimation

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Centrifugation

The correct answer is Centrifugation.

Concept:

Separation process:

• Separation is a process that used to separate two substances that once formed a mixture. The type of separation process used depends on the mixture's properties and components.
• Distillation:
  • The process involving the conversion of a liquid into a vapor that is subsequently condensed back to liquid form.
  • In distillation both vaporization and condensation take place.
  • Distillation is used in the separation of two or more liquids having different boiling points, as in the separation of gasoline, kerosene, and lubricating oil from crude oil.
• Sublimation: 
  • Sublimation is the transition from the solid phase to the gas phase without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. For example, dry ice, arsenic, naphthalene sublimates.
• Centrifugation:
  • ​It is a technique imparted to separate components from solution mixture based on their size, density, viscosity, etc.
  • The solution is rotated at high speed and the particles suspended get sedimented under the influence of gravity according to their density.
• Magnetic Separation:
  • Magnetic separation is used to separate magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles in a mixture.
  • The magnetic particles adhere to the surface of the magnet whereas the non-magnetic particles do not and thus get separated from each other.
  • Magnetic separation is used to separate iron particles from sand.

Explanation:

• Butter and buttermilk are components of curd.
• Butter is lighter whereas buttermilk is denser.
• Curd is rotated in a churn is used to separate the two components.
• The churn is rotated at a high speed like the process of centrifugation.
• Buttermilk being heavier settles down whereas the butter being lighter comes upwards.
• Thus, they are separated via centrifugation.