INSTRUMENT SEMINAR

POWDER MIXER

Dr
Raghuveer
 CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Mixing
• Objectives of mixing
• Mixing mechanism
• Factors affecting perfect mixing of
powders
• Different types of mixers & their use
• Conclusion
• References

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 INTRODUCTION
• It is an instrument used to mix
the powders.
• Mixing is one of the common
pharmaceutical operation & is
used in the preparation of many
types of formulation such as,
tablets, capsules, & compound
powders.

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 Mixing
• Mixing is the most widely used
operation in which two or more
than two substances are combined
together.
• Perfect mixing is that in which
each particle of one material lies as
nearly adjacent as possible to a
particle of the other material.
• Mixing is depends on the purpose
of the product & the objective of
mixing.
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 Objectives of Mixing
• Simple physical mixing of
materials to form a uniform
mixture.
• To promote the chemical reaction
to get uniform products.
• Dispersion of solid in liquid to
form suspension or paste.
• Dispersion of two immiscible
liquids to form an emulsion.
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 Mixing Mechanism
• The solid mixing takes place by a
combination of one or more
mechanisms given below-

3) Convective Mixing: Bulk movement

of groups of particles from one part of
powder bed to another. It occurs by an
inversion of the powder bed by means
of blades & paddles.

5) Shear Mixing: When shear forces

occur it reduces the scale of
segregation by thinning of dissimilar
layers of a solid material.
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 Contd…

3) Diffusion Mixing: It occurs when

random motion of particles within a
powder bed causes them to change
position relative to one another.

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Factors affecting perfect Mixing of Powders
• Particle size: Variation of particle size can lead
to separation, because small particles move
downward through the space between the bigger
particles.
• Particle shape: The ideal particle shape is
Spherical for uniform mixing.
• Particle attraction: Some particles exert
attractive forces due to electrostatic charges on
them. This can lead to separation.

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 Contd…
• Material density: It is difficult to mix two
powders having different density. This is due to
dense material always move downwards & settles
down at the bottom.
• Proportions of materials: The best result can be
achieved if two powders are mixed in equal
proportions by weight or by volume. In case there
is large difference in the proportions of two
powders to be mixed the mixing of powders is
always done in the ascending order of their
weights.
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 Particles Mixing

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 Mixing

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 • Powders:- Tumbler mixer
Double cone mixer
Agitated powder mixer
Air mixer

• Liquids:- Propeller mixer

Turbine mixer
Paddle mixer

• Semi-solid:- Triple roller mill

Agitator mixer
Planetary mixer
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 Tumbler Mixer
•It consists of a metallic vessel in
which powders are mixed by
slow rotation, either manually or
with the help of an electric
motor.
•Due to rotation the ingredients
come over one another.
•The tumbler mixers are
generally made up of stainless
steel and are of various designs,
such as cubical, V-shaped, Y-
shaped, & cylindrical etc.
•These are rotated at a low speed
by using an electric motor of
suitable horse power.
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 Tumbler Mixer

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 Double-Cone Mixer

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 Double Cone blender

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 Contd…
• It is made up of stainless steel, & is available in
different capacity ranging from 5 Kg to 200 Kg
or even more.
• The efficiency of the blender depends on the
speed of rotation.
• The rate of rotation should be optimum which
depends on the size & shape of tumbler as well
as nature of material to be mixed
• The common range is 30-100 r.p.m.

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 Contd…
• The material is to be blended is loaded
approximately 50 to 60% of the total capacity
of the blender.
• As the blender rotates the material undergoes
tumbling motion and mixes the material
thoroughly.
Use:-
• Mixing powders of different densities.
• Used mainly for small quantity of powders.

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 Agitated Powder Mixer

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 Contd…
• It consists of a stationary vessel in which an arm
rotates & transmits shearing action to the
particles.
• The end-to-end movement is required for general
mixing which can be achieved by fitting helical
blades to the agitator.
Uses:-
• Mixing free flowing powdered materials having
uniform particle size and density.

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 Air Mixer

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 Contd…
• The air movement can be used for mixing of
powders.
• The powders to be mixed are taken in a vertical
cylindrical vessel & air is admitted at its base.
• This gives a spiral movement to the powder.
• The air should be admitted at short intervals &
not continuously.
• A typical method is to use eight air blasts of two
seconds duration with one second interval.
• Thus 24 seconds are required for proper mixing.
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• Different types of Powder Mixer

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 Drum Mixer

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EYH Drum Mixer Drum Mixer

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 Rotary Drum Mixer

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 Z-Blade mixer

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 Double cone blender

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 Conclusion
• For small scale we are using mortar &
pestle for mixing.
• For large scale/pharmaceutics we can go
for these different varieties of mixers.
• These are easy to perform.
• By using these instruments we can save
time.
• Work will become faster.
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 References
•Remington Vol I
•Textbook of Pharmaceutics - [Link]
•Pharmaceutics - [Link]
•Pharmaceutical practice - Winfield Richards
•Textbook of Pharmaceutics – [Link]
•Textbook of physical pharmaceutics
- C.V.S. Subrahmanyam
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
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 Thank
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U…
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