Optimization of lily microbulb scale separation operation

A centrifugal separator was developed and tested for separation of microbul b lilies in a plant tissue culture process. Three major factors, microbulb cutting position, spinning speed of the circular disk, and separation time, were examined to optimize the separation ratio and to minimize damage of t he separation operation. Experimental results showed that under various com binations of factors, 15 of the total 48 treatments achieved 100% separatio n, and 16 of 36 monitored treatments had damage levels below 20%. The respo nse surface method (RSM) was applied to analyze the constraints for optimum operational conditions of the separator. Analysis revealed that, with diff erent cutting positions, satisfactory separation ratios with limited damage of scales of microbulbs could be obtained under certain operational condit ions. Nine validation treatments verified the predicted optimum operational conditions. Experiments and RSM prediction indicated that a high spinning speed resulted in a high separation ratio, high damage ratio, and high prop agation ratio. The relative discrepancy between the measured and predicted values for separation ratio ranged from 2.4% to 126.1%, with an average of 29.4%. For damage ratios, the relative discrepancy ranged from 1.4% to 147. 2% with an average of 52.4%.