CL610: EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

EXPERIMENT NO: 13

PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS

Date of Experiment Performed: 12-02-2018

Date of Draft Report Submission: 22-02-2018

Date of Final Report Submission: 26-02-2018

BATCH: M10

Pranav Kumar (173020037)

Sumit Kumar (173020035)

INSTRUCTORS: PROF. V.A. JUVEKAR

PROF. Y.S. MAYYA

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

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 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOMBAY

CONTENTS

1. Objective 3

2. Theory & Principle 3

3. Apparatus and chemicals 4

4. Procedure 4

5. Calculations 4

6. Results and Discussion 4

7. Precautions 5

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig 1: Particle size analyzer ( LA-960 ) 3

Fig 2: Cumulative frequency of wheat flour particle vs. Diameter 5

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OBJECTIVE

 To determine the particle size distribution of wheat flour, boric acid powder, ultra slake and
bentonite clay sample using Laser Scattering Particle size Distribution analyzer LA-960.
 To find out Mean, Mode, Median, Variance and standard deviation of each sample.

THEORY

Particle size distribution influences rate of reaction, potential to dissolve, packing density,
sedimentation, effectiveness of drug delivery by inhalation, product appearance etc. It is also important
in understanding its physical and chemical properties. Particles in nanometer and micrometer range can
be characterized by dynamic and static laser light scattering (laser diffraction). Analysis of emulsions,
suspensions and dry samples can be done using static laser light scattering.

PRINCIPLE

Laser diffraction measures particle size distributions by measuring the angular variation in intensity of
light scattered as a laser beam passes through a dispersed particulate sample. Large particles scatter
light at small angles relative to the laser beam and small particles scatter light at large angles. The
angular scattering intensity data is then analyzed to calculate the size of the particles responsible for
creating the scattering pattern, using the Mie theory of light scattering. The particle size is reported as a
volume equivalent sphere diameter.

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APPARATUS and CHEMICALS

 Particle size analyzer LA-960

 Spatula spoon
 Wheat flour, Boric acid powder, Ultra slake and Bentonite clay samples.

PROCEDURE

1. Start LA-960 electronic display and go to advance then set mode and then choose dry.
2. Set sample, R.I. of sample etc.
3. Click for measurement screen and set feeder amplitude automatic.
4. First switch vacuum button then air then alignment then blank and then feed.
5. Click on measurement button after which measurement will begin and particle size distribution
will be displayed.

CALCULATIONS

Mean =∑{q(J) *X{J}/ ∑{ q(J)}

J: Particle Diameter Division Number

q (J): Frequency Distribution value (%)

X {J}: Jth particle Diameter Range’s sample Diameter (µm)

Variance = ∑[ (X(J) - Mean)2*q(J)/100]

Median Size: Cumulative particle diameters equivalent to 50%.

Mode Size : Frequency distribution value’s largest values that become particle diameter of the
frequency distribution graph’s peak.

Standard Deviation (SD): Value taken from arithmetic distribution value’s square root.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Sample Mean Mean cal. Median Mode Variance SD % Error

(µm) (µm) (µm) (µm) (µm)2 (µm)
Wheat 1 124.59 133.33 77.29 32.066 13876.8 117.58 7.01
Wheat 2 125.15 133.94 76.20 32.03 13916.9 117.97 7.02
Wheat 3 216.21 231.39 122.75 186.53 53633.9 231.59 7.02
Ultraslake1 6.54 6.99 6.16 6.25 1.9 1.39 6.88
Ultraslake2 6.63 7.1 6.23 6.26 1.96 1.40 7.08
Ultraslake3 6.59 7.06 6.22 6.26 5.15 2.27 7.13
Clay1 25.12 26.88 20.21 18.56 288.6 16.99 7.00
Clay2 25.06 26.82 20.26 18.56 274.8 16.58 7.02

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Clay 3 24.66 26.39 20.41 18.59 234 15.30 7.01
Boric acid1 131.83 141.05 45.42 48.01 44990.6 212.11 6.99
Boric acid2 62.63 67.01 38.77 36.67 4240.6 65.12 6.99
Boric acid3 54.47 58.2 36.74 36.66 2799.4 52.91 6.84

Figure 2: Cumulative frequency of wheat flour particle vs. Diameter

 We can see wheat flour 3 and Boric acid powder 1 have given very high standard deviation. This
happened because of high feeder rate as because of high feeder rate lumped particles went
inside the system.

PRECAUTIONS

 Diameter larger than 1500 micrometer can block the pathway. So use smaller size particle.
 Heat the wheat flour before size measurement to vaporize the moisture and avoiding lumping.
 Feeder rate should not be very high otherwise lumped particle will not segregate and also can
block the pathway.
 Do not operate this unit in areas receiving direct sunlight, direct air conditioning or where large
temperature changes can occur.
 Operate the unit where dust levels are low, and no corrosive gases are present.
 Unit should be horizontal, and there should be no vibration.

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 Unit should be placed on stable support or table.
 Do not operate this unit near strong magnetic or electric fields, or high- frequency devices.