Subscribe to Newsletter
Fields & Applications Food, Beverage & Agriculture, Technology

Sizing Up Particles

Particle size analysis is important in many industries.

Abstract

Knowledge of particle size is important in the food industry because it affects the production and handling of ingredients and the formulation, processing, and quality control of food and beverage products. Particle size affects reactivity, solubility, and flowability of ingredients and the texture, mouthfeel, and processing of products.

Particle size analysis has been applied to a wide variety of ingredients and products, including coffee, sugar, salt, flour, chocolate, milk powder, spices, and flavors. Analytical techniques for measuring particle size range from traditional sieving and sedimentation to use of modern automated imaging and laser-based instruments.

Particle size analysis is important in many industries. Knowledge of particle size is important in the food industry because it affects the production and handling of ingredients and the formulation, processing, and quality control of food and beverage products. Particle size affects reactivity, solubility, and flowability of ingredients and the texture, mouthfeel, and processing of products. Particle size analysis has been applied to a wide variety of ingredients and products, including coffee, sugar, salt, flour, chocolate, milk powder, spices, and flavors. Analytical techniques for measuring particle size range from traditional sieving and sedimentation to use of modern automated imaging and laser-based instruments.

Sieving

Sieving is the traditional method for determining the size distribution of a sample of solid material. A dry sample is placed in the top sieve of a stack of sieves of decreasing aperture sizes, and the stack is vibrated to separate the different sizes by gravity. Then the sieves are weighed to determine the size distribution. Sieving is commonly used with relatively large materials, greater than 63 microns in diameter.

Read the full article now

Log in or register to read this article in full and gain access to The Analytical Scientist’s entire content archive. It’s FREE!

Login
Receive content, products, events as well as relevant industry updates from The Analytical Scientist and its sponsors.
Stay up to date with our other newsletters and sponsors information, tailored specifically to the fields you are interested in

When you click “Subscribe” we will email you a link, which you must click to verify the email address above and activate your subscription. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at [email protected].
If you wish to unsubscribe, you can update your preferences at any point.

Register to The Analytical Scientist

Register to access our FREE online portfolio, request the magazine in print and manage your preferences.

You will benefit from:
  • Unlimited access to ALL articles
  • News, interviews & opinions from leading industry experts
  • Receive print (and PDF) copies of The Analytical Scientist magazine

Register