PARTICLE SIZE
REDUCTION
TECHNIQUES
Rajesh Kumari
Deptt. Of Food Technology
CBL Govt. Polytechnic, Bhiwani
1
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CLASSIFICATIO
N
TECHNIQUES
ROTARY CUTTER
MILL MORTAR AND
PESTLE FLUID
ENERGY MILL
COLLOID MILL
EDGE RUNNER MILL
END RUNNER MILL
APPLICATION
S
REFERENCES
2
INTRODUCTION
Size reduction is a process of reducing large solid unit masses, coarse
particles or fine particles.
Size reduction may be achieved by two methods:
1] Precipitation
2] Mechanical process
1] Precipitation method: Substance is dissolve in appropriate
solvent.
2] Mechanical process: Mechanical force is introduce by using
different equipments like ball mill, colloid mill etc.
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CLASSIFICATION OF SIZE REDUCTION EQUIPMENT
A. Crusher D. Cutting machine,
Ex-edge runner mill, ex- cutter mill.
end runner mill.
B. Grinder
(1)Impact mill. ex-hammer
mill. (2)Rolling-compression.
ex-roller mill. (3)Attrition
mills, ex-attrition mill.
(4)Tumbling mills. ex-ball
mill.
C. Ultrafine grinder,
ex-fluid energy mill.
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TECHNIQUES
ROTARY CUTTER
MILL
MORTAR AND PESTLE
ROLLER MILL
HAMMER MILL
BALL MILL
FLUID ENERGY MILL
COLLOID MILL
EDGE RUNNER MILL
END RUNNER MILL 5
ROTARY CUTTER MILL
Principle:
In the cutter mill, size reduction involves successive cutting or shearing
the feed materials with the help of sharp knives.
Feed
Milling chamber
Stationary knives
Rotating knives
Fig: Rotary cutter mill
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Working:
Rotor disc rotate at 200-900 revolution per
min.
Feed
Material
material loaded
is cut throughrotating
between hopper. & stationary knives in
pieces, therefore
small particle pass through the screen product is collected
into receiver.
Uses:
Size reduction (finer than 80-100 mesh) of tough and fibrous
material.
Ex. Medicinal plant, plant parts and animal tissue.
It also used in manufacture of rubber, plastics,
recycling of paper waste and plastic material.
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MORTAR AND PESTLE
This is the classical and the simplest equipment for grinding.
It is work on application of attrition and pressure.
In this equipment both mortar and pestle are rotating.
This equipment cannot be provided with a
sieve for. continuous removal of fines.
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ROLLER MILL
Principle:
The material is crushed (compressed) by the application of
stress. The stress is applied by rotator wheels, rollers.
Feed
Hopper
Rollers
Fig: Roller 9
mill.
Working:
The rollers are allowed to rotate. The material is feed
into hopper through gap between two rollers by applying
high pressure material is cursed.
Uses:
Roller mill is used for crushing and cracking of seed before
extraction of fixed oils and also used to crush soft tissue
to help in the penetration of solvent during extraction process.
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HAMMER MILL
Principle:
The hammer mill operates on the principle of impact between
rapidly moving hammer mounted on a rotor and the
powder material.
Fig: Hammer 11
Working: The hammers are allowed to be in continuous motion(8000-
15000 rpm) the feed material is placed into the hopper, whiles hammers
are in continuous motion.
Uses:
Particle size obtained from 10-400mm.
Also used to mill dry, wet and filter press cakes materials.
Advantage:
Easy to setup and clean up.
Occupies small space.
Disadvantage:
Heat buildup during milling is more , therefore,
degradation is possible.
product
Not suitable for milling of soft, tacky and fibrous
materials.
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BALL MILL
Principle:
The ball mill works on the impact between the rapidly
moving ball and the powder material, both enclosed in a hollow
cylinder. Thus, in the ball mill, impact or attrition or both are
responsible for the size reduction.
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Fig: Ball
Working:
The drug is filled into cylinder 60% of the volume. A fixed
number of ball introduced and cylinder is close.
Uses:
Fine grinding with a particle size of 100-5 mm less
or
can be obtained.
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Advantage:
Very fine powder produce.
Suitable for both wet and dry grinding processes.
Close system, sterility can be achieved.
Disadvantage:
Very noisy machine.
Not suitable for milling of soft, tacky and fibrous materials.
15
Fluid Energy Mill
Principle:
Fluid energy mill operates on the principle of impact and attrition the
feed stock is suspended with in a high velocity air stream.
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Fig: Fluid energy
Working:
Powder is introduced through the inlet of venture. Air introduce
through the grinding nozzles transport the powder in the circular
track of the mill. The turbulent air stream break the particles
colloids with each other and break. Particles are carried out to
outlet and the coarse particle undergo recirculation .
Uses:
Fluid energy mill is used to reduce the particle size(10-325mesh) of
most of the drugs such as antibiotics and vitamins.
Ultrafine grinding can be achieved moderately hard material can
be
processed for size reduction.
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Advantages:
Contamination is not possible.
Disadvantage:
Not suitable for milling of soft, tacky and fibrous materials.
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COLLOID MILL
Principle:
Colloid mill consist of 2 steel disc having very small clearance
between them. One disc is rotating, while the other one
is stationary.
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Fig: Colloid
Working:
Suspension and emulsion are placed in hopper. The
solid are mixed with the liquid vehicle before introduce into
colloid mill Rotor is moved 3000 to 20000 rpm. The dispersion
flow down and adher to the rotor.
Uses:
Colloidal dispersion, suspension, emulsion, and ointment.
Advantage:
Production of sterile product.
Disadvantage:
Not useful to dry milling.
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EDGE RUNNER MILL
Principle
The size reduction is done by crushing due to heavy weight
of stone.
21
Fig : Edge runner
Working:
Material to be ground is placed on the bed at the
same time travel around the shallow stone bed so the size
reduction is achieved by sharing as well as crushing.
Uses:
Grinding tough material to fine powder.
Advantages:
Does not require attention during operation.
Disadvantages:
More space than Contamination, Tim
other mill, e
consuming, Not use for sticky
materials.
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END RUNNER MILL
Principle:
Size reduction is done by crushing due to heavy weight of steel
pestle. Shearing stress is also involved during movement of mortar and
pestle.
Fig: End runner 23
Working:
The material to be ground is placed in the mortar. The
mortar revolves at a high speed. The revolving mortar causes the
pestle to revolve during this process, size reduction is achieved.
Uses:
Use for fine grinding.
Disadvantages:
Not suitable for unbroken or slightly broken condition of drug.
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APPLICATIONS
Fine powder due to their higher surface area show rapid rate of dissolution
and thus increase the rate of absorption in to the blood.
Increase the chemical rate of reaction.
Improves mixing and minimise segregation.
Suspensions and emulsions have slow rate of settling and creaming.
Topical preparation containing good spredability and less irritating.
Absorption capacity is increase.
Cosmetic products containing fine powder is less gritty.
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REFERENCES
Aulton , Aulton Pharmaceutics, The Design And Manufactures of
Medicines,
1stEdition (1988), Churchill Livingstone; pp.140-144.
Leon Lachman, The Theory And Practice Of Industrial Pharmacy,
1stEdition (1970), Varghese Publication House; pp. 34-45.
Kamath A. Method Of Size Reduction And Factor Affecting Size Reduction In
Pharmaceutics: A review.2013;4(8):57-64
Subrahmanyan C.V.S. Pharmaceutical Engineering Principles and
Practices, 1stEdition (2001), Vallabh Prakashan; pp.148-164.
Pawar Atmaram, Introduction to Pharmaceutics, (2008), Career
1stEdition
Publication; pp. 207-214.
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