Spray morphological characteristics

ZnO particle morphologies are very complex and diversiform in comparison with Ti02. Thus, monodispersed ZnO particles with well-defined morphological characteristics, such as spherical, ellipsoidal, needle, prismatic, and rod-like shapes, have been obtained. Aggregates composed of these basic shape particles have also been achieved. The methods used for synthesis of these ZnO powders include alkali precipitation [214-216], thermal decomposition [217], hydrothermal synthesis [218], organo-zinc hydrolysis [219], spray pyrolysis [220], and other routes. 

Some empirical observations can help to understand how the feedstock physical state (i.e., suspension, emulsion, solution) and the physicochemical properties of the formulation components relate to the morphology and surface characteristics of the spray dried particles. As mentioned above shell formation will occur when one of the formulation components reaches its solubility and precipitates leading to the formation of a solid shell that may be either amorphous or crystalline. Low aqueous solubility components tend to precipitate early in the drying process and lend to form corrugated... 

The effort that leads to optimization of the particle morphology is largely one of trial and error, and there is no simple means to describe the distribution of components within individual particulates. Clearly, if the majority of an active component (API) is in the interior of a particle, then the dissolution or release characteristics are likely to differ from particles where the API is predominantly on the surface. The surface distribution of proteins and polymers within spray-dried particles has been studied using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis that involves analyzing the energy signature of electrons scattered from surfaces while being bombarded by x-rays [11,28-31], Conclusions can then be drawn... 

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Figure 2.32 Effect of precipitation conditions and precursor characteristics on (A) particle morphology and (B) composite particle microstructure in spray pyrolysis. (From Ref. 89.)...

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