Particle Size Analyzers

Inline Particle Size Characterization

A particle size analyzer is an analytical instrument that provides key insight into particle size, shape, and count. This requires technology that measures, visualizes, and reports a particle size distribution for a given particle or droplet population. Particle size analyzers play an important role during process development and quality control of particle systems to develop efficient processes and achieve high final product quality.

There are two types of particle size analyzers – inline and offline. In QC Labs, offline particle size analyzers are used to check the specification of particles at the end of a process to identify deviations from the required particle properties.

However, common sampling challenges, increasing pressure to expedite process development, and a higher demand for “right-first-time" processes require the use of inline particle size analyzers, like EasyViewer (with PVM technology) and ParticleTrack (with FBRM, Focus Beam Reflectance Measurement technology). The ability to continuously measure particles as they naturally exist in a process has dramatically improved the ability to understand, optimize, and control particle and droplet systems, in real-time.

Real Time Particle Size Analyzers for Laboratory and Process Environments

EasyViewer™

PVM® Particle Size Analyzers

EasyViewer is an in-situ optical microscopy tool that uses advanced image analysis to determine particle size. Read more

ParticleTrack™

FBRM® Particle Size Analyzers

ParticleTrack is an in-situ particle size analyzer that uses Focus Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) to determine particle size in the lab and plant. Read more

Common Particle Size Analyzer Applications Include:

Since acquiring Lasentec in 2001, METTLER TOLEDO has continued to advance the development of FBRM and PVM particle size analyzers. With thousands of in-situ particle size analyzers installed worldwide from the R&D laboratory to the manufacturing plant, our probe-based technologies are acknowledged as the gold standard for particle size distribution analysis. Our technology measures and visualizes the rate and degree of change in particle and droplet systems as they naturally exist in process.

Particle Size Analyzer FAQs

What does a particle size analyzer do?

The size and distribution of the particles that make up a substance are identified using particle analyzers. Particle size analyzers are employed in a variety of industries for product testing, production, quality control, and research and development.

Why is particle size analysis important?

Different particles can have very different physical properties and a certain particle size and shape will be optimal for a specific purpose.

Catalyst – maximum surface area
Medicines – highest bio-availability
Industrial processing – good flowability

Particle size analysis is important for process optimization and quality control to ensure and document optimal particle properties. The wrong particle size, in the worst case, can mean that a particle product will not be fit-for-purpose and a downstream process might experience an unplanned shutdown.

What is particle size measured in?

Particle size analyzers measure particles in a length dimension like nm, µm, or mm. Depending on the industry and particles, a different size range can be applied.

What is the average particle size?

For particle populations of many different particle sizes (small to large), it is possible to calculate the arithmetic mean, median, or mode as an integral function over all particles. The average particle size provides one averaged number that characterizes a larger particle population.

How does a particle size analyzer work?

A particle size analyzer operates according to a specific method of measurement (for example, image analysis, laser back-scattering, or laser diffraction) with individual and method-specific boundary conditions. There are a variety of particle size analyzers available. All particle size analyzers provide different values for the same particle, depending on their specific method of measurement.

How do you measure the size of a particle?

Macroscopic particles can, for example, be measured with a ruler or caliper. Microscopic crystals usually need more sophisticated analytical devices due to the reduced particle size. Typical particle size measurement techniques are image analysis, laser back-scattering, laser diffraction, or sieve fraction analysis.

What does particle size mean?

Every particle has a specific shape and different three-dimensional elongation. Particle size is an effective way to describe and characterize the dimensional properties (length, width, and height) of a particle. Although particles are usually of three-dimensional nature, a one-dimensional size function (for example, chord length, particle length, or spherical equivalent diameter) is frequently used in practice.

Resources for Particle Size Analysis

Seeding a Crystallization Process

New Technologies for Crystallization Development

Strategies To Control Crystal Size Distribution

Advanced Techniques To Optimize Crystal Size Distribution During Process Development and Manufacturing

PAT For Emulsion Characterization

Utilizing Process Analytical Technology (PAT) to Optimize Emulsions

Crystallization Process Design

New Technologies for Crystallization Process Design

Biocatalysis PAT in Process Development

Advantages of Enzymatic Biocatalysis over Chemocatalysis

Improve Industrial Crystallization

Track Particle Size Inline

Crystallization in Process Chemistry

Applying Simple PAT Tools

Particle Size Analyzers in Recent Publications

The selection of journal articles below utilize particle size analyzers to address measuring solubility and metastable zone, crystallization design, seeding crystallization processes, optimizing crystal shape, monitoring supersaturation, polymorphic crystallization, phase separation (oiling out), managing impurities, crystallization scale-up, and continuous crystallization.

Seed Recipe Design for Batch Cooling Crystallization with Application to L-Glutamic Acid, Zhang et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2019, 58, 8, 3175-3187. pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b06006
Effect of a polymer binder on the extraction and crystallization- based recovery of HMX from polymer-bonded explosives, Kim et al., Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Volume 79, 25 November 2019, Pages 124-130. doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2019.06.014
Diastereomeric Salt Crystallization of Chiral Molecules via Sequential Coupled-Batch Operation, Simon et al., AIChE Journal, Volume 65, Issue 8. doi.org/10.1002/...

Seed Recipe Design for Batch Cooling Crystallization with Application to L-Glutamic Acid, Zhang et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2019, 58, 8, 3175-3187. pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.iecr.8b06006
Effect of a polymer binder on the extraction and crystallization- based recovery of HMX from polymer-bonded explosives, Kim et al., Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Volume 79, 25 November 2019, Pages 124-130. doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2019.06.014
Diastereomeric Salt Crystallization of Chiral Molecules via Sequential Coupled-Batch Operation, Simon et al., AIChE Journal, Volume 65, Issue 8. doi.org/10.1002/aic.16635
On-line observation of the crystal growth in the case of the non- typical spherical crystallization methods of ambroxol hydrochloride, Gyulai et al., Powder Technology, Volume 336, August 2018, Pages 144-149. doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2018.05.041
Characterization of a Multistage Continuous MSMPR Crystallization Process assisted by Image Analysis of Elongated Crystals, Capellades et al., Cryst. Growth Des. 2018, 18, 11, 6455–6469.
pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.cgd.8b00446
Development and Scale-Up of a Crystallization Process To Improve an API’s Physiochemical and Bulk Powder Properties, Durak et al., Org. Process Res. Dev. 2018, 22, 3, 296–305.
pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.oprd.7b00344
A continuous multi-stage mixed-suspension mixed-product-removal crystallization system with fines dissolution, Acevedo et al., Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Volume 135, July 2018, Pages 112-120. doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2018.05.029

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Particle Size Analyzers

Inline Particle Size Characterization

particle size analysis in slurry