Size distribution measurement of

floating particles in the Allen region

by a buoyancy weighing-bar method
By: Rondang Tambun, Takumi Motoi, Masamitsu Shimadzu, Yuichi Ohira, Eiji Obata

Yenni Listiana 120405008

Hilde Rosa Tampubolon 120405109

W
bac hat is
kgr
oun t he
rese d of
a r c h t hi s
?

Stokes diameter, Andreasen pipette

method, Sedimentation balance method,
Centrifugal sedimentation method

Laser diffraction/scattering method ,

and Coulter counter method
Time consuming and require special
skills

The equipment is extremely expensive

Wha
t

is B
WM
?

BWM measures the change in suspension density due to

particle migration by weighing the buoyancy against a
weighing-tool hung in the suspension, and subsequently
calculating the particle size distribution using the length
of the weighing-tool and the time-course change in the
apparent mass of the weighing-tool

Wha
purp ts the
os e
rese of this
arch
?
Theoretically, a buoyancy weighing-bar
method should be applicable to measure
the particle size distribution in both the
Stokes and Allen regions

Particle size x is given by the Allen formula

How
this they
rese do
arch
?

1. To prepare a suspension, 1000 ml liquid and the particles to

be tested were mixed in a graduated cylinder..
2. The weighing-tool was hung from an electronic precision
weighing balance using a hanging wire, which did not
extend due to the weight of the weighing-tool.
3. After thoroughly stirring the suspension using an agitator,
the weighing-tool was set with the balance, and this was
recorded as t = 0 s.
4. The measuring data, which consisted of time t and the
corresponding mass of the weighing-tool, were recorded on a
personal computer.
5. After the measurements, we calculated the particle size
distribution of the tested particles based on the abovedescribed theory.

Wh
at is
mat
t
e r i a he
ls?

The initial volume concentration of the suspension was set

to 0.01, and the temperature during the experiment was
maintained at 298 K. Measurements lasted 150 s.

Wh
at is
resu the
lt?

Spherical Particles

Apparent mass of the weighing-tool as a function of time

Particle size distributions of spherical particle

Cylindrical particle

Apparent mass of the weighing-tool as a function of time

Particle size distributions of cylindrical particle

conclusions

1. Although particles in the Allen region migrate, the

floating particle size distributions of solid particles
can be measured by the buoyancy weighing-bar
method.
2. The precision of the particle size distribution is
comparable to that obtained by a laser
diffraction/scattering method or a sieving method.