AquaPrep II - for Saturn DigiSizer II
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Particle Size Analysis Water Preparation System Particle size measurement instruments typically employ deionized or even untreated water as a suspension medium for particle dispersion during analysis. Usually, this water contains undesirable levels of dissolved gases, most often those commonly present in the atmosphere. During analysis, these gases can come out of solution, forming minute bubbles that can have important effects on the analytical results. Regardless of the relative size of the bubbles, their presence distorts the reported distribution of sizes; it also degrades the repeatability of analyses. The more powerful the analyzer, the more There are available, with some instrumentation, software routines that attempt to subtract or nullify the effects of bubble distortions during analysis. These routines are inadequate in that they can only estimate dissolved gas concentrations, with no calibration reference whatsoever. Consequently, they serve to incorrectly manipulate the data, providing inaccurate results. Only the removal of the actual cause of the distortion – the bubbles themselves – can provide true and accurate analysis. dissolved air from the water through the pronounced these effects can be. When capillary walls and into the vacuum pump. using a highly sensitive instrument such The air removed from the water is subse- as the Micromeritics Saturn DigiSizer®, quently exhausted through a small tube removal of the dissolved gases (that sub- at the front of the instrument, which is sequently lead to bubble formation) is connected to a bubbler-type apparatus for therefore extremely desirable for obtaining performance monitoring. During typical the most accurate particle size data pos- operation, the AquaPrep can prepare sible. The Micromeritics AquaPrep is a approximately 5 liters of water for analysis highly-effective system for freeing water in less than 2 hours. Because air bubbles of dissolved gases for use with the scatter light as do particles, the AquaPrep Saturn DigiSizer. enhances even further the high-accuracy analysis of small particles. Its compact, The AquaPrep recirculates water through rugged, and reliable design make it ideal a hydrophobic capsule consisting of many for use in a wide variety of aqueous particle- thin-walled capillaries. A vacuum pump sizing applications. provides low pressure on the outside of the capillaries, causing a diffusion of The Science and Technology of Small Particles™ 4356 Communications Corporation Micromeritics Instrument Drive Norcross, Georgia, USA 30093 One Micromeritics Drive, Norcross, GA 30093-1877, USA U.S. Sales: 770.662.3636 International Sales: 770.662.3660 Customer Orders: 770.662.3636, FAX: 770.662.3696 www.micromeriti

— Glass beads in untreated Water — Glass beads in treated Water Volume Frequency vs. Diameter Volume Frequency Percent A particle size distribution comparison of glass beads analyzed in untreated and treated water. Notice the outlier peak caused by the bubbles; this could easily be confused as a characteristic of the sample material. Outlier peak of analysis with untreated water is the result of bubbles. — Garnet in untreated Water — Garnet in treated Water After treatment with the AquaPrep, the outlier peak is completely eliminated and the true distribution of the particles is obtained....