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Methods of Determining Particle Size

There are several methods for determining the particle size distribution of bulk solids, each covering different size ranges. Sieving uses a series of wire mesh sieves to separate particles, ranging from 100,000 to 45 microns. Sedimentation determines particle size based on settling rate in a liquid, measuring the "Stokes' diameter" for particles from 75 to 2 microns. Laser diffraction passes a laser through a liquid suspension to diffract light and calculate particle size distributions from 3,500 to 0.001 microns.

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930 views

Methods of Determining Particle Size

There are several methods for determining the particle size distribution of bulk solids, each covering different size ranges. Sieving uses a series of wire mesh sieves to separate particles, ranging from 100,000 to 45 microns. Sedimentation determines particle size based on settling rate in a liquid, measuring the "Stokes' diameter" for particles from 75 to 2 microns. Laser diffraction passes a laser through a liquid suspension to diffract light and calculate particle size distributions from 3,500 to 0.001 microns.

Uploaded by

jokish
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Methods of determining particle size

There are many methods of determining the particle size


distribution of bulk solids.
The approximate useful range of a number of methods is
indicated below:
Method Range (micron)
Dry sieving 100 00045
Wet sieving 100 00010
Sedimentation and elutriation 752
Electrical sensing zone 8001
Microscopy (light) 1501
Microscopy (electron) 10.01
Laser diffraction 35000.001
This is an area where there have been many major developments
and changes over
recent years, as well as needs in terms of the sizing of an
increasing number of materials in the sub-micron and nano-size
ranges.
Sieving
Sieving is probably the most common way of obtaining a particle
size distribution.
They are easy to use, produce reasonably consistent and reliable
results, and sieves can be found that will cover the size range of a
large proportion of the bulk solids of industrial importance.
Sieving relies on the use of a series of sieves, each consisting ofa
woven wire mesh or perforated plate rigidly mounted in a shallow
frame. Such sieves are specially manufactured so that the
apertures in the wire mesh or perforated plate are of a certain
size.
The measuring technique involves placing a pre-determined mass
of the material to be sized on the top surface of a series of sieves
stacked together. The stack is then agitated, generally by a
mechanical shaker for a given time. The sieves are graduated
from the largest at the top to the smallest at the bottom, with a
similar pan beneath to collect the fines. The range of sizes is
selected to suit the material being examined. Collecting and
weighing the material retained on each sieve and in the pan then
allows the size distribution to be analysed. Sieving may be carried
out either wet or dry. In wet sieving the bulk solid is washed with
water, usually by means of a water spray, during the sieving
operation. Wet sieving is used where there are problems of fine
particles adhering to coarser particles. This is particularly a
problem with materials subject to the influence of electrostatic

charge. It is also possible to sieve to a smaller particle size with


wet sieving.
Sedimentation
The sedimentation method is based on the rate of settling of
particles. This process is carried out by dispersing the sample in a
liquid. If the bulk solid dissolves in water a suitable non-reactive
liquid has to be used. With this method it is the Stokes diameter
that is determined. This is the diameter of a sphere that has the
same density and freefalling velocity as the irregular particles
under test.
Elutriation
The elutriation method is based on the vertical lift of particles
from a porous surface by an upward flow of air at a known
velocity. It is the Stokes diameter that is determined by this
method, as with the sedimentation method described above. The
proportion of the sample that is removed at a given air velocity is
measured. The air velocity is then increased and the process is
repeated. It is clearly a slow process as only one size can be
measured at a time, but it is ideal for materials that are very
friable and susceptible to damage on sieves and forced flow
through laser diffraction devices.
Electrical sensing zone
The electrical sensing method (the Coulter principle) enables both
size and number of particles to be determined. The material
sample is mixed in an electrically conductive liquid and the
suspension is made to flow through a small orifice. On either side
of the orifice is an electrode. Any particle that passes through the
orifice increases the resistance between the electrodes. This
generates a voltage pulse, the magnitude of which is a function of
the volume of the particle. The results, therefore, are given in
terms of the diameter of a sphere of equivalent volume. These
pulses are electronically scaled and counted and from the
resulting data the size distribution of the sample can be
determined, either in gravimetric of particle number terms.
Microscopy
With the optical microscope method a sample of material is
dispersed on a glass slide and the individual particles are
observed and measured. Areas of the magnified images are
compared with areas of reference circles of known sizes on a
graticule. From this the diameter of the particles corresponding to
their equivalent projected area are deduced. By using a
transmission electron microscope, particles finer than one micron
can be sized by similar means. The principle disadvantage of

sizing by microscopy is that it can be both tedious and time


consuming. With the use of sophisticated electronic image
analysing and counting techniques, however, the time element
can be reduced considerably. A particular advantage of viewing
the material through a microscope, however, is that, unlike all
other sizing techniques, it also gives the opportunity to learn
something of the shape and structure of the particles. These are
also important characteristics, which relate to the nature of the
bulk solid and how it may handle. It influences the packing
arrangement of the particles and their interaction with fluids, and
hence affects the flowability and conveyability of the bulk.
Laser diffraction
During the early 1970s techniques were developed for
determining the size distribution of a sample of fine particulate
material by measuring the diffraction that occurs as a beam of
light passes through a suspension of the sample. Within a few
years the technique was improved to a point where a reliable size
analysis could be made by a semi-skilled operative in just a few
minutes. In recent years laser diffraction devices have taken most
of the market share of both electrical sensing zone and
sedimentation devices. The range of particle sizes has also
increased, to both larger and smaller particles, with continuing
development.

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