High particle-sizing methods

There is no universal particle size method or instmment that can satisfy all the varied criteria and needs, and furthermore, it is highly unlikely that sudi a device will materialize within the foreseeable future. Indeed, no new principles or methodology have been wimessed in many decades. This does not, however, imply nor say that there have been no new developments or improvements in the field of particle size measurements. Quite to the contrary, there have been many new and exciting developments of interest and value to research as well as industry. 

Figure C2.17.2. Transmission electron micrograph of a gold nanoneedle. Inverse micelle environments allow for a great deal of control not only over particle size, but also particle shape. In this example, gold nanocrystals were prepared using a photolytic method in surfactant-rich solutions the surfactant interacts strongly with areas of low curvature, thus continued growth can occur only at the sharjD tips of nanocrystals, leading to the fonnation of high-aspect-ratio nanostmctures [52].

The precursor glass powders may be produced by various methods, the simplest being the milling of quenched glass to an average particle size of 3—15 p.m. Sol gel processes, in which highly uniform, ultrafine amorphous particles are grown in a chemical solution, may be preferable for certain apphcations. 

However, in the case of mini- and microemulsions, processing methods reduce the size of the monomer droplets close to the size of the micelle, leading to significant particle nucleation in the monomer droplets (17). Intense agitation, cosurfactant, and dilution are used to reduce monomer droplet size. Additives like cetyl alcohol are used to retard the diffusion of monomer from the droplets to the micelles, in order to further promote monomer droplet nucleation (18). The benefits of miniemulsions include faster reaction rates (19), improved shear stabiHty, and the control of particle size distributions to produce high soHds latices (20). 

Some particle size measuring techniques ate more particle shape sensitive than others. Data obtained by different methods can be significantly different, and whenever a particle size is reported, the measuring technique and conditions should always be mentioned. Even using the same equipment, the extremes of the distributions (low and high 10%) are usually not readily reproducible. 

Common names have been given to sodium sulfate as a result of manufacturiag methods. In rayon production, by-product sodium sulfate is separated from a slurry by filtration where a 7—10-cm cake forms over the filter media. Thus rayon cake was the term coiaed for this cake. Similarly, salt cake, chrome cake, phenol cake, and other sodium sulfate cakes were named. Historically, sulfate cakes were low purity, but demand for higher purity and controlled particle size has forced manufacturers either to produce higher quaUty or go out of busiaess. Sodium sulfate is mined commercially from three types of mineral evaporites thenardite, mirabilite, and high sulfate brine deposits (see Chemicals FROMBRINe). 

Copper Hydroxide. Copper(II) hydroxide [20427-59-2] Cu(OH)2, produced by reaction of a copper salt solution and sodium hydroxide, is a blue, gelatinous, voluminous precipitate of limited stabiUty. The thermodynamically unstable copper hydroxide can be kiaetically stabilized by a suitable production method. Usually ammonia or phosphates ate iacorporated iato the hydroxide to produce a color-stable product. The ammonia processed copper hydroxide (16—19) is almost stoichiometric and copper content as high as 64% is not uncommon. The phosphate produced material (20,21) is lower ia copper (57—59%) and has a finer particle size and higher surface area than the ammonia processed hydroxide. Other methods of production generally rely on the formation of an iasoluble copper precursor prior to the formation of the hydroxide (22—26). 

In principle, the velocities c and ti can be determined by taking a series of pictures at a very high frequency of the flow through a transparent plastic tube. Because of the particle size distribution, each particle moves at a different velocity, and this makes this method difficult to apply in practice. We have therefore used an indirect method, where we have measured the pressure losses of pneumatic conveying for two mixture ratios and then fit the parameters so that Eq, (14.126) coincides as accurately as possible with measured pressure losses. 

---