Size Reduction and Separation

Mr. Swayamprakash Patel

Ph.D. M.Pharm.
Size Reduction:
Process of reducing large solid unit massed into small unit masses,
coarse particles or fine particles.
Size reduction = comminution = diminution = pulverization.

Size Reduction
1) Precipitation 2) Mechanical
Advantages of Size Reduction
Content Uniformity:
Uniform flow:
Effective Extraction:
Effective Drying
Improved Physical Stability
Improved dissolution
Improved rate of absorption
Dis-advantages of Size Reduction
Drug degradation
Poor mixing
Contamination
Mechanism of Size Reduction:
Cutting
Compression
Impact
Attrition
Factor Affecting Size Reduction
1) Hardness:
Hardness is surface property often confused with strength.
Hardness and Strength are different thing. If material is hard but brittle
(chalk) than no issue with size reduction.
2) Toughness:
More important than hardness. Soft but tough material faces
more problem with size reduction (Chalk vs Rubber)
In Pharmaceutical Operations: Fibrous material face same problem.
Treatment with liquid nitrogen (-100 to -1500 C) can solve this
problem.
3) Abrasiveness:
Property of hard material. During size reduction due to
abrasiveness property of material, it get contaminated with metal of
machine.

4) Stickiness and Slipperiness:

Both are non scientific terms but self explanatory. Addition of
inert substances like Kaoline or Talc may solve this problem.

5) Softening Temperature:
Waxy substances like Stearic acid, drug containing oil or fat.
Water jacketed grinder may help.
6) Moisture Content
usually less than 5% or more than 50% if wet grinding.
7) Physiological Effect:
Ex: Podophyllum Resin

8) Purity Required:

9) Energy Requirement:
Classification of Equipment:
A) Crusher:
1. Example: Edge Runner Mill, End Runner Mill
B) Grinder:
1) Impact mill (Hammer Mill)
2) Rolling Compression ( Roller Mill)
3) Attrition Mill ( Attrition Mill)
4) Tumbling Mill ( Ball Mill)
C) Ultrafine Grinder ( Fluid Energy Mill)
D) Cutting Mill (Cutter Mill)
Size Reduction Equipment:
1)