Particle size analysis is crucial across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, and materials science. It involves determining the size distribution of particles in a given sample. Different techniques are employed for this purpose:
1. Laser Diffraction: This method utilizes a laser beam passing through the sample. The scattered light is then measured at different angles, providing information about the particle size distribution.
2. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS): DLS measures the fluctuations in scattered light caused by Brownian motion of particles in a liquid. This technique is often used for nanoparticles.
3. Microscopy: Direct observation of particles through microscopy allows for accurate measurement of individual particle sizes and shapes.
4. Sieve Analysis: This involves passing a sample through a series of sieves with progressively smaller mesh sizes. The retained particles on each sieve are weighed to determine the distribution.
5. Electron Microscopy: High-resolution imaging of particles using electron microscopy helps analyze their morphology and size at a very fine scale.
In pharmaceuticals, compliance with standards such as those set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is essential to ensure the quality and consistency of drug products. Particle size can influence the efficacy, stability, and bioavailability of pharmaceutical formulations.
In summary, particle size analysis is a critical aspect of quality control in various industries, impacting product performance and characteristics. Different methods are chosen based on the nature of the sample and the required precision of the analysis. Standards like those from the USP provide guidelines for acceptable particle size ranges in specific applications.
Read also: Particle Size Distribution (PSD) Study of Pharmaceutical Materials
Resource Person: Abu Talha Bin Dil Chowdhury
