Model: Mastersizer 3000

Brief Introduction of the Instrument:

Mastersizer 3000 is a particle size analyzer developed by Malvern Analytical, a leading manufacturer of analytical instruments. The Mastersizer 3000 is used to determine the particle size distribution of a wide range of materials, such as powders, suspensions, emulsions, and aerosols. The instrument operates on the principle of laser diffraction, where a laser beam is passed through a sample, and the scattered light is measured at various angles. By analysing the scattering pattern, the Mastersizer 3000 can calculate the particle size distribution of the sample.

Technical Specification:

General
Particle size: Suspensions, emulsions, dry powders (1 μm – 1000 μm) Principle: Laser light scattering Analysis: Mie and Fraunhofer scattering Data acquisition rate: 10 kHz Typical measurement time:<10 sec

Optics
Red light source: Max. 4mW He-Ne, 632.8nm Blue light source: Max. 10mW LED, 470nm Lens arrangement: Reverse Fourier (convergent beam) Effective focal length: 300mm

Detector
Arrangement: Log-spaced array Angular range: 0.015 – 144 degrees Alignment: Automatic Number of size classes: 100 (user adjustable) Accuracy: Better than 0.6% ** Precision / Repeatability: Better than 0.5% variation * Reproducibility: Better than 1% variation *

System compliance
Laser safety: Class 1, IEC60825-1:2007 and CFR Chapter I: Sub-chapterJ: Part 1040 (CDRH) Regulatory testing: RoHS and WEEE compliant CE / FCC compliant Meets requirements of the European Low Voltage directive

System
Power: 100/240 v, 50/60 Hz 50W (no dispersion units connected) 200W maximum (2 dispersion units connected) Humidity: 80% maximum for temperatures up to 31°C, decreasing linearly to 50% at 40°C. Non condensing. Operating temperature (°C): +5°C to +40°C Product storage temperature: -20°C to +50°C Ingress Protection (IP) rating: IP41B

Application of the Instrument:

Pharmaceuticals: In pharmaceuticals, particle size analysis is essential for ensuring consistent drug formulation and delivery. It helps to optimize drug dissolution rates, bioavailability, and stability. It is also crucial in developing inhalable medications and assessing the size of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients.

Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Particle size analysis is vital in cosmetics and personal care products to ensure even distribution, improve product texture, and enhance performance. It is commonly used to characterize the size of pigments, emulsions, and various additives.

Food and Beverages: In the food and beverage industry, particle size analysis is critical for controlling the texture, mouthfeel, and stability of products. It is used to optimize the grinding processes, measure flour fineness, evaluate emulsion stability, and monitor particle size changes during processing.

Paints and Coatings: Particle size analysis helps in formulating and optimizing paints and coatings to achieve the desired properties, such as smoothness, opacity, and color consistency.
Chemicals and Materials: In various chemical and material industries, particle size analysis is used for quality control, process optimization, and material characterization. It is relevant for substances like catalysts, pigments, abrasives, and nanoparticles.

Mining and Minerals: Particle size analysis plays a significant role in mining and minerals processing. It helps in determining the efficiency of grinding processes, understanding ore properties, and optimizing mineral separation methods.

Environmental Monitoring: Particle size analysis is essential in environmental research to study aerosols, airborne particulate matter, and sediment particles in water bodies.

Nanotechnology: In nanotechnology research, particle size analyzers are used to characterize nanoparticles and nanomaterials, ensuring their quality and uniformity.

Biotechnology: In biotechnology and biopharmaceutical research, particle size analysis is employed for characterizing protein aggregates, liposomes, and other biomaterials.

Polymers and Plastics: Particle size analysis is useful in the polymer and plastic industries to optimize material properties, such as tensile strength, impact resistance, and melt flow behavior.

Limitation of the Instrument:

Limited Resolution for Very Small Particles: While the Mastersizer can measure a wide range of particle sizes, it may have limitations in accurately resolving very small particles in the nanometer range. In such cases, other specialized techniques like dynamic light scattering (DLS) or electron microscopy might be more suitable.

Sensitivity to Sample Properties: The accuracy of particle size analysis can be influenced by the refractive index and optical properties of the sample. If the sample properties differ significantly from those of the calibration standards, it may affect the accuracy of the measurements.

Aggregation and Agglomeration: Particles tend to aggregate or agglomerate in certain conditions, especially in concentrated suspensions or complex sample matrices. The presence of aggregates can lead to overestimation of particle size or interfere with the analysis.

Sample Dispersion: Proper sample dispersion is crucial for accurate measurements. Inadequate dispersion can lead to inaccuracies and affect the results.

Measurement Range: While Mastersizer analyzers have a broad measurement range, there are practical limits to the size and concentration of particles that can be effectively analyzed. Extremely large or concentrated particles may require specialized instruments or dilution methods.

Shape Information: The Mastersizer primarily provides information about particle size distribution but lacks detailed information about particle shape. Particle shape can significantly influence material properties, but this information is not directly captured by laser diffraction methods.

Instrument Calibration: Regular calibration is necessary to maintain the accuracy and reliability of measurements. Deviations from proper calibration may lead to inaccuracies in the results.
Sample Volume Requirements: Depending on the measurement cell and analysis mode, Mastersizeranalyzers may require a relatively large volume of the sample. This could be a limitation when dealing with precious or limited sample quantities.

Real-Time Analysis: The particle size analysis with Mastersizer is not instantaneous and may take several minutes per sample, depending on the measurement conditions and the complexity of the sample.
Sample Transparency: Laser diffraction relies on scattering of light, which may not be suitable for transparent samples that do not efficiently scatter light.

Sample type and consumable needed

Sample Type:

• Dry Powders: Dry powders are a common sample type for particle size analysis. They can be directly analyzed using the Mastersizer without any additional preparation. However, it is essential to ensure that the sample is homogenous and free from agglomerates.
• Wet Dispersions: Many samples, especially in industries like pharmaceuticals, paints, and food, are in the form of suspensions or emulsions. These samples require dispersion in a liquid medium before analysis to prevent particle aggregation during measurement.

Consumables:

• Measurement Cells: Depending on the Mastersizer model, different measurement cells may be available to accommodate various sample volumes and concentration ranges. These cells are designed to hold the sample during analysis and ensure proper scattering of light. The appropriate measurement cell should be selected based on the expected particle size and concentration of the sample.
• Dispersants: For wet sample measurements, a suitable dispersant is required to suspend the particles and prevent them from settling during analysis. The choice of dispersant depends on the sample type and the compatibility with the material being analyzed.
• Cleaning Solutions: Regular cleaning of the measurement cell is essential to avoid cross-contamination between samples and ensure accurate results. Cleaning solutions (20% IPA) recommended by the manufacturer should be used for this purpose.
• Calibration Standards: The Mastersizer requires regular calibration to maintain measurement accuracy. Calibration standards of known particle size are used to calibrate the instrument.