Setaccio

Setaccio is a sieve or sifting device used to separate mixture components by particle size. It typically consists of a frame that supports a mesh screen, either perforated metal or woven wire, through which material passes. When material is agitated or shaken, smaller particles pass through the openings while larger ones are retained, allowing a coarse-to-fine separation.

It has broad applications across culinary, scientific, and industrial fields. In cooking and baking, setacci are used to aerate and remove lumps from flour, sugar, or ground grains. In laboratory and industry, they classify powders and granular materials by particle size, determine distributions, and assist in quality control. In mining and mineral processing, sieving separates ore from gangue; in archaeology, screen-washing sediment helps recover small artifacts; in environmental sampling, sieves help isolate target fractions from soils and sediments.

Common materials include stainless steel, brass, aluminum, or durable plastics. Mesh openings are described by mesh size or micrometers, and standard sets provide a graded sequence of openings. Designs range from simple hand-held sifter frames to stacked sieve sets, to mechanized or vibratory sieves that improve throughput and particle-size resolution. Handling requires keeping the mesh free of tears and residues; cleaning between uses prevents cross-contamination and preserves accuracy.

Setaccio is Italian for sieve, and the term is widely used in Italian and in some technical English contexts to describe such devices and their function.