Decantation is a process for the separation of mixtures, carefully pouring a solution from a container, leaving the precipitate (sediments) in the bottom of the container. Usually a small amount of solution must be left in the container, and care must be taken to prevent a small amount of precipitate from flowing with the solution out of the container. It is generally used to separate a liquid from an insoluble solid, e.g. in red wine, where the wine is decanted from the potassium bitartrate crystals.

See also

• Settling
• Wine

Analytical chemistry | Unit operations | Chemical engineering

Dekantieren | Decantatie | Decantação | Декантация | Dekantointi