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.