Learn Alpine airjet sieve principle, construction, working, uses, advantages and disadvantages. It separates particles by generates air from a vacuum.
What is Alpine air jet sieve in pharmacy?
This is a specialized instrument used in the field of pharmacy and powder characterization. It is a unit which separates particles by generates air from a vacuum.
It is designed for particle size analysis and is particularly useful in pharmaceutical applications such as, during formulation and quality control of pharmaceutical products.
Alpine airjet sieve principle
In the Alpine airjet sieve, for sieving action a jet of air introduced to one side of the sieve and suction on the other side.
The material is maintained in a fluidized state on the screen by a stream of air. For the suction of powder, a vacuum is applied below the screen.
Construction
- The case of machine made of metal.
- Sieve mesh is fitted into the case.
- Sieve cover is placed in such a way that seal air flow.
- A rotating slit is adjusted to upper edge of machine.
- Provision is made to pass airjet below the slit.
- Suction line (vacuum) is provided below the sieve, which can be controlled with the help of a manometer.
Alpine air jet sieve working
- Put 10 gm of powders on the sieve.
- Placed the cover in accurate position.
- Rotate the slit by supplying jet of air from below.
- Powder gets fluidized by the air.
- The suction (vacuum) is adjusted until the manometer reads about 27 kPa.
- The vacuum sucks powder through the sieve.
- Weigh the powder and transfer to a next sized mesh with a fine brush until all fractions are collected from the sample.
Uses
Here is some application of alpine air jet sieve:
- For analysis of powder for its size distribution.
- For production of fine powders.
Advantages
- It is a rapid method.
- Result is reproducible.
- Fluidization of powder can block the mesh.
Disadvantages
- Cannot be used for large scale production because, capacity is limited.
- The operation may unexciting, because each time we can obtain one particle size.
ALSO READ What is flow of fluids in pharmacy? Manometers in pharmaceutical engineering.