Particle Characterization

Ir. Dr. Nor Yuliana Yuhana

25 March 2019
• What is particle?
• Examples of particles?
• Why measure particle properties?
• How do you describe a particle?
• How do you characterize particle?
• Examples of unit operation dealing with
particles?
 Particle
• A small discrete quantity of matter that has an
interface with the surrounding environment.
Solid materials
Liquid droplets in air
Bubbles in water or emulsions
 Particle

The most common types of materials consisting of

particles are:

• powders and granules e.g. pigments, cement,

pharmaceutical ingredients
• suspensions, emulsions and slurries e.g. vaccines,
milk, mining muds
• aerosols and sprays e.g. asthma inhalers, crop
protection sprays.
Some of the most important physical properties
to measure are:
• particle size
• particle shape
• surface properties
• mechanical properties
• charge properties
• microstructure.
Fixed or fluidized bed reactor

http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/processes/chemical-
reactors.html, retrived on 20 March 2016
 Pneumatic Transport

A pneumatic conveying system transfers powders, granules, and other dry bulk materials
through an enclosed pipeline. The motive force for this transfer comes from a combination
of pressure differential and the flow of a gas, such as air or nitrogen.
• Apparent particle density is used to model
gas-particle interactions
– Pneumatic transport
– Cyclones
– Centrifugation
– Sedimentation

Further reading : http://www.nol-tec.com/answers-to-eight-common-

questions.html
 Why measure particle properties?
Better control of product quality
• quality delivers real economic benefits such
as:
– ability to charge a higher premium for your
product
– reduce customer rejection rates and lost orders
– demonstrate compliance in regulated markets.
Better understanding of products, ingredients and
processes
• improve product performance
• troubleshoot manufacturing and supply issues
• optimize the efficiency of manufacturing
processes
• increase output or improve yield
• stay ahead of the competition
 API = Active pharmaceutical ingredient

Source : http://www.pharmtech.com/importance-powder-
characterization
Ref http://www.particletesting.com/Repository/Files/density_determinations.pdf, retrieved on
21 March 2016
 Particle Density
• =?
True density : Density of solid material (excludes
pores volumes)

Apparent particle density (p)

– Particle falling in a gas
– Volume of particle as “seen” by the gas includes
the pores volume
Measurements : gas or liquid pycnometer
• Bulk density : Density of the bulk powder,
includes the voids between the particles

b = p (1-)

 = voidage or volume fraction of bulk powder

occupied by voids
 Bulk density measurement

Density cup of specified volume

(100, 120 cm3)

http://www.hmk-test.com/how-to-measure-bulk-density-of-
powder-as-200-by-aimsizer/, retrieved on 20 March 2016
 Particle Size
• Equivalent particle diameter, diameter of an equivalent sphere having the
same property as the actual particle such as volume or mass for example.

• Average particle diameter

In the case of the rod shaped particle, a
volume equivalent sphere would give a particle
diameter of 198μm,
which is not a very accurate description of its
true dimensions.

However, we can also define the particle as a

cylinder with the same volume which
has a length of 360μm and a width of 120μm.
This approach more accurately describes the
size of the particle and may provide a better
understanding of the behavior of this particle
during processing or handling for example.

Same volume
 Particle size measurement
• Sieving
• Sedimentation
• Centrifugation
• Image analysis – SEM, TEM
Source: https://www.phenom-world.com/
Pink Clover
Source: https://www.phenom-world.com/
 The TiO2 nanoparticles are beneficial for degrading organic pollutants through their
photocatalytic activities.
TiO2 microparticles are suitable for UV protection that can be incorporated into sun
creams, paints, and dyes.

Source : https://www.flewsolutions.com.au/product-overview-titanium-dioxide-tio2-nanoparticles/
Particle size distribution
mean – ‘average’ size of a population

median – size where 50% of the

population is below/above

mode – size with highest frequency.

 Particle shape
• Important consideration
• Affects powder rheological properties, surface
area, process based on fluid-particle or
particle-particle interactions
 Examples
Application Particle shape
Inks, Paint, cosmetics Flaky - can cover more areas
Fibers for plastic reinforcement Elongated – good impact strength
Rubber grains Round- good tensile strength
• Particle sphericity – useful to predict fixed bed
pressure drop.

• Calculate the sphericity of a cylinder of

diameter 1 cm and height 3 cm. (Answer :
• Volume of particle = p rc2 h = p x 0.52 x 3 = 2.356
cm3
• Radius of sphere of volume 2.356 cm3:
• 4 p rs3 / 3 = 2.356
• rs = 0.8255 cm
• Surface area of sphere of same volume as the
particle = 4 p rs2 = 4 x p x 0.82552 = 8.563 cm2
• Surface area of particle = 2 p rc (h + rc) = 2 x p x
0.5 x (3 + 0.5) = 10.996 cm2
• Sphericity (f s) = 8.563/10.996 = 0.779
• Particle aspect ratio
 Other particle characterization
technique
Characterization Purpose
Zeta Potential Measure of the magnitude of the
electrostatic or
charge repulsion or attraction between
particles in a liquid suspension.
Sample dispersion Sample to be analyzed in some sort of
dispersed form where the individually
particles are spatially separated. In order
to do this there are two basic approaches:
• wet dispersion – particles dispersed in a
liquid
• dry dispersion – particles dispersed in a
gas (usually air).
Laser Diffraction Particle Sizing
The End. Thank You.