The Characterization of Dried Aluminum Hydroxide Gel Suspensions: Particle Size Analysis and Thermal Analysis

This study was performed to investigate the effect of flocculation on the sedimentation characteristics of dried aluminum hydroxide suspensions. Particle size analysis was performed using sieving, hindered settling theory and laser diffraction. Dried aluminum hydroxide suspensions were prepared in various dispersion media eg. Purified Water USP, 0.01%, 0.03% and 0.05% PEG 1000 solutions. The particle size of the suspensions was determined using settling behavior of the sediment. The rate of fall of the interface was plotted and the straight line portion of the graphs was used to obtain the values of the slope (Q). Further calculations were done and the Q-values were used to fit the Richardson and Zaki, Steinour and Dollimore and Mc Bride equations in order to obtain the particle size. The results from the hindered settling theory were found to be consistent with results from the Laser diffraction studies. However, it was found that sieve analysis was not the most appropriate technique to determine the particle size distribution since it could not measure the size of the individual particles. The particle size increased upon the incorporation of PEG 1000 and with increasing concentrations of PEG 1000 solution. This may be attributed to the floccule formation which was further established by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal analysis was done to determine the amount of water associated with the suspensions. Differential Scanning Calorimetry was used to determine the amount of unbound water. The bound water could not be determined due to instrument limitations. However, TGA could not calculate the amount of bound water since the peak due to the water loss overlapped with the degradation peaks of aluminum hydroxide in the suspensions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science (MSP)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

College of Pharmacy

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Toledo Health Science Campus

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Lella, Prathyusha

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alexander, Kenneth

• Pharmacy Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=mco1363800317

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:mco1363800317