What is Handpicking technique?

What is Handpicking technique?

Handpicking is a  process of separating larger particles from a heterogeneous mixture by your hand. It is an old method of separation that humans had ever used. This method of separation is only applicable to larger particles in a mixture. 

For example, your mother picks the dirty particles or stones through nuts. This is what is called handpicking. But on the other hand, in the case of tea, the tea leaves can not be eliminated through handpicking methods. So we use another technique to separate that mixture which is called filtration. This method of picking is useful only in dry conditions, and also in small quantities of impurity from mixtures. On a larger scale, we use other separation techniques.

Examples of handpicking process

Handpicking separation method is used to separate any of larger particles from mixtures. For example:

  • Separation of stones from rice and nuts
  • Separation of fruits from a mixture of different fruits in the basket
  • Separation of rotten tomatoes or potatoes from fresh tomatoes and potatoes
  • Separation of round boxes from the mixture of rectangular and round boxes
  • Separation of red apples from green apples.

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Advantages of handpicking method

Some of the most obvious advantages of handpicking method of separation are: 

  • No equipment or machinery is used. Only hands are used
  • Very simple and very easy to use this method
  • Takes less time for small quantities
  • No preparation is required for the application of this method

Disadvantages of handpicking method

Every technique has its limitations. A few are here: 

  • Applicable for the separation of dry and larger impurities
  • Time consuming for large quantities
  • Not applicable for homogenous mixtures of liquids

This is all about my topic of the handpicking method of separation. This is one of many separation techniques. Other techniques that are used for different purposes are: filtration, distillation, crystallization, sublimation, chromatography, solidification, evaporation, vapor pressure technique and techniques on the bases of boiling and melting points, etc. 

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