SOP for Particle Size Analysis By Microscopy

Objective

To lay down the procedure for the measurement of particle size of raw materials using a microscopic method.

Scope

To measure and count the particles and particle size of raw material using the visual microscopical method.

Responsibility

Doing: Technical Assistant (Q.C)/Executive

Checking: Executive / Assistant Manager (Q.C)

Accountability

Head of the Department

Procedure

• Take approximately 100 mg of powder in a clean, dry test tube and add 10 ml of paraffin oil; vortex it for 30 seconds to create a uniform suspension.
• Place one drop on the clean, dry slide with the help of a pipette. Gently place a clean, dry cover slip, avoiding air bubbles.

• Mount the slide in a microscope, insert the micrometer scale in the eyepiece, and focus at 10X, 40X, or 100X as required based on the objective.

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• The measurement of the micrometer scale for different objectives is as follows.

1. For 10X objective, 1 Division = 10µ
2. For 40X objective, 1 Division = 2.5µ
3. For 100X objective, 1 Division = 1µ

• Select 5 different microscopic fields and measure the total for about 200 to 300 particles.
• After the measurement is completed, calculate the particle size and the percentage of particles in different particle size ranges as required.
• The size limit and the permitted number of particles are as per individual specifications.
• Refer to Annexure-I (general format) for reporting results.

Abbreviations

% : percentage

Annexure

Revision History

Nil

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