Supernatant vs. Decantation

Supernatantadjective

(of a liquid) Lying above a sediment or precipitate

Supernatantadjective

Floating on the surface of a liquid

Supernatantnoun

The liquid that lies above a sediment or precipitate; supernate

Supernatantnoun

Material that floats on the surface of a liquid

Supernatantadjective

Swimming above; floating on the surface; as, oil supernatant on water.

Supernatantnoun

The liquid remaining after solids suspended in the liquid have been sedimented by gravity or by centrifugation. Contrasted with the solid sediment, or (in centrifugation) the pellet.

Supernatantnoun

a liquid lying above a sediment (floating on the surface)

Supernatantadjective

of a liquid; floating on the surface above a sediment or precipitate;

Supernatantadjective

denoting the liquid lying above a solid residue after crystallization, precipitation, centrifugation, or other process

Supernatantnoun

a volume of supernatant liquid

Decantationnoun

the act of decanting the supernatant liquid from a solid sediment

Decantationnoun

The act of pouring off a clear liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or from one vessel into another.

Decantation

Decantation is a process for the separation of mixtures of immiscible liquids or of a liquid and a solid mixture such as a suspension. The layer closer to the top of the container—the less dense of the two liquids, or the liquid from which the precipitate or sediment has settled out—is poured off, leaving the other component or the more dense liquid of the mixture behind.