Objectives Describing the size of a single

particle
1. Characterize particles according to size Regular-shaped particles can be accurately
2. Identify different methods on precise described by giving the shape and a number of
dimensions.
determination of particle size
Particle Size Analysis 3. Calculate particle sphericity, total
number of particles, total surface area
and average particle sizes
Engr. Brylle Rosales
MITL

Describing the size of a single Describing the size of a single Describing the size of a single
particle particle particle
Unfortunately, molecular systems seldom form Microscope diameters used in microscope analysis:
Which dimension we do use will in practice depend on :
regular shaped particles. • Martin’s diameter (length of the line which bisects
• What property or dimension of the particle we are the particle image)
able to measure
• Feret’s diameter (distance between two tangents
• The use to which the dimension is to be put on opposite sides of the particle)
• Shear diameter (particle width obtained using an
image shearing device)

Figure 1. Copper Figure 2. Hydroxyapatite

Describing the size of a single Describing the size of a single Describing the size of a single
particle particle particle
• If we use a sieve to measure the particle size we come Table 1.2 compares values of these different equivalent
up with an equivalent sphere diameter, which is the sphere diameters used to describe a cuboid of side lengths
diameter of a sphere passing through the same sieve 1, 3, 5 and a cylinder of diameter 3 and length 1.
aperture.
• If we use a sedimentation technique to measure particle
size then it is expressed as the diameter of a sphere
having the same sedimentation velocity under the same
conditions.
 Methods of particle size
Worked Example 1.1
measurement
Calculate the equivalent volume sphere • Sieving
diameter xv and the surface-volume • Permeametry
equivalent sphere diameter xsv of a cuboid • Microscopy
particle of side length 1, 2, 4 mm. • Electrozone Sensing
• Laser Diffraction

Sieving Sieving Sieving

Dry Sieving Wet Sieving
• Sieving is the simplest and most • The most common modern sieves are in sizes
widely used technique for powder such that the ratio of adjacent sieve sizes is the • Simple method of size • Analysis down to 5 mm
classification fourth root of two (eg. 45, 53, 63, 75, 90, 107 analysis • https://www.youtube.c
• The common sieves are made of mm). • suitable for particle om/watch?v=pcesrdcNz
sizes greater than 45 ig
woven wire cloth and have square • Sieving may be performed wet or dry, by mm.
apertures machine or by hand, for a fixed time or until • https://www.youtube.c
• Weight distribution powder passes through the sieve at a constant om/watch?v=2sZixB57
low rate GMM

Sieving Sieving Permeametry

Air Jet Sieving • Advantages • This is a method of size analysis based on fluid
– Easy to perform flow through a packed bed.
• The powder on the sieve is fluidized by a jet or air, can achieve
analysis down to 20 mm. – Wide size range • The particle size is measured by calculating the
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cvYvfqYVZE – Inexpensive equivalent volume sphere diameter, XV or the
• Disadvantages surface-volume equivalent sphere diameter, XSV .
– Problems of reproducibility • In permeametry, XSV is used to measure the
– Damage in use or cleaning particle.
– Irregular particles • XSV is the diameter of a sphere having the same
– Labour intensive surface area to volume ratio as the particle.
 Permeametry Permeametry Microscopy
Carman-Kozeny Equation • When dealing with non-spherical particles with a distribution • Microscopy is the use of a microscope or
of sizes, the properties of the particle can be shown in terms
investigation by a microscope.
of mean.
• Each mean can be shown to conserve two properties of the • high precision optical instrument that uses a lens
Where, (-Δp) – Pressure drop across the bed original population of particles. or a combination of lenses to produce highly
ε – Packed bed void fraction magnified images of small specimens or objects
H – Depth of the bed especially when they are too small to be seen by
μ – Fluid viscosity
the naked (unaided) eye.
U – Superficial fluid velocity

NOTE: This equation is for laminar flow through a randomly packed • Light microscopy and Electron microscopy
bed of uniformly sized spheres of diameter x.

Microscopy Microscopy Microscopy

Light microscope Electron microscope
• Some systems provide a number distribution of
size and shape.
• Feret and Martin’s diameter, shear and projected
area

• Light microscope – 200nm

• Electron microscope -1nm

Electrozone Sensing Electrozone Sensing Laser Diffraction

vR = i / l This method relies on the fact that for light passing
• Also known as Coulter where
through a suspension, the diffraction angle is
technique or counter. v = particle volume
l = aperture current inversely proportional to the particle size.
• The Coulter Principle i = pulse intensity
R = response factor relative pulse height per unit V
• “change of resistance is
proportional to the particle
size and surface charge”.
• Resistance change can be
measured as voltage pulse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpsN78mQ6YY
 Laser Diffraction Exercises
Advantages of Laser diffraction
• Wide dynamic range - from submicron to the millimeter size range.
Particle Size
• Rapid measurements - results generated in less than a minute.
• Repeatability - large numbers of particles are sampled in each
Analysis
measurement.
• Instant feedback - monitor and control the particle dispersion process.
• High sample throughput - hundreds of measurements per day.
• Calibration not necessary - easily verified using standard reference
materials.
• Well established technique - covered by ISO13320 (2009).
Lynette Mae Abo
Mark Angelo Arias
Kamille Bonifacio
Claire Deanne De Guzman