Chemical Processing - June 2008 - (Page 32)

particle classification Figure 3. Windows provide various details about the classes of particles — here, agglomerates, rounds or longs — in a sample. Source: Fluid Imaging Technologies. still poses something of a problem. While the ESD allows one number to be used to quantify particles “size” of any shape, they’re rarely homogeneous and exhibit a variety of shapes. Knowing the particles actual length and width — their shape — in chemical formulations can be critical to product effectiveness. This is why FlowCAM, a continuous imaging fluid particle analyzer from Fluid Imaging Technologies, Edgecomb, Me., is attracting attention. “FlowCAM was originally developed for the analysis of waste water, but is now moving into the chemicals, pharmaceutical and even food sectors,” says Lew Brown, manager of marketing and sales. Chemical applications to date laser diffraction sensors and dry dispersers, are the include paints, printing inks, ink jet toners, plus asstate-of-the-art in-line laser diffraction units for dry sorted dispersions, emulsions and mixtures. One major powders from 0.25–3,500 µm, claims the company. chemical customer has five FlowCAMs, one working For granulates or very fragile particles, Mytis units 24/7 in the quality control laboratories, with the others team laser diffraction technology with a gravity disperser in one instrument that covers 0.5–10,000 µm. shortly going into the production process. “The main difference here is that we can differMettler Toledo, Columbia, Md., certainly believes entiate between shapes. Everybody knows that the in the value of in-situ particle measurement. Its ESD basically involves taking a volume, scrunching it Lasentec FBRM and PVM analyzers are in-process, up into a sphere and then finding the volume of that real-time technologies said to be suitable for crystalsphere. This tells you nothing about the particle and lization or virtually any solids or dispersed-phase concentration testing. Models of both are available for its shape, unless you’ve got a homogeneous solution.” FlowCAM can record up to 26 different paramuse from lab through scale-up to production, ensuring eters for each particle and then uses a pattern recogniconsistent data throughout the life of a process. For A2 Technologies, Danbury, Conn., portability tion algorithm to find out how many there are of a is key. The company’s new Exoscan FTIR spectrometer, particular shape in each sample (Figure 3). This gives FlowCAM substantial advantages over launched in March at Pittcon, is designed for nondestructive, on-site surface and bulk analysis (Figure 2). other analysis methods, says Brown. For example, the device reportedly requires far less set-up and Claimed to be the most compact FTIR spectrometer on the market, Exoscan weighs less than seven pounds. maintenance time and, using different-sized flow Yet, says A2, its analytical performance rivals far larger cells, allows for particles analysis from 1 micron to 3mm. Also, a patented optical element within the and more expensive traditional FTIR spectrometers. objective lens extends depth of field, greatly increasFTIR spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool ing imaging clarity at higher magnifications. Enthat has been primarily used in the laboratory due to its size, complexity and lack of instrument stability, ex- hanced depth of field allows it to be used at higher plains Jon Frattaroli, A2’s CEO. However, for increased flow rates (up to 10 ml/s) than other instruments, he notes. In addition, measurements such as length/ numbers of applications, a sample can’t be brought to width (not just ESD), area and aspect ratio are easily the laboratory or put into a traditional FTIR bench because of the size of the material. So, there’s a need for calculated on the fly, and images are available for an analyzer that offers the power of FTIR spectroscopy visual and computational post-processing. “Our big challenge is that people are stuck with the portability of a handheld instrument. in their ways. We have lost a number of potential contracts because people have said that they really Shaping up like what we can do, but ‘this is the way we do it.’ While the benefits of online analysis are obvious, the However, we are getting known around the chemical basis for many modern particle characterization techindustry now,” says Brown. niques — the equivalent spherical diameter (ESD) — JUNE 2008 chEmicalprocEssiNg.com 32 http://chemicalprocessing.com

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Chemical Processing - June 2008 Contents From the Editor ChemicalProcessing.com Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor Achieve Model Operations Bolster Your Condition Monitoring Toolbox Particle Analysis Makes Solid Progress Improve Batch Reactor Temperature Control Improve Your Job Security Plant InSites Process Puzzler Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - June 2008

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