Malvern Instruments

Malvern Instruments’ Morphologi G3 has won Instrument Business Outlook’s 2008 Gold Award for analytical instrument industrial design. The Morphologi G3 is an automated particle
characterisation system that provides high quality, statistically significant particle size and shape information. The IBO Design Awards are given annually and according to the organisers “the Morphologi G3’s innovative industrial design clearly distinguishes it by creating an appealing visual appearance and enhanced
end-user experience”. Ulf Willén, Malvern’s product manager for Analytical Imaging Systems, said, “This is tremendous recognition for the team at Malvern who worked so hard on the design and development of the Morphologi
G3. All the work was done in house and I would very much like to add my congratulations to everyone involved.”

Experts from The Arable Group (TAG), the UK’s leading independent crop research and consultancy organisation, are using a Spraytec droplet size analyser from Malvern Instruments in work to improve the understanding of agrochemical spray behaviour. Since droplet size influences spray drift, run-off and plant uptake, it is a key parameter in understanding the impact of pesticide use and in predicting the deposition patterns associated with different spray systems. Spraytec offers the robust operation and rapid data acquisition speeds needed for the reliable measurement of wide spray plumes and is being used to measure droplet size distributions in real-time during spraying. Spraytec measures sprays with particles in the size range 0.1 to 2000 microns. Its exceptionally fast data acquisition rate allows the real-time capture of atomisation dynamics in fine detail.

Nanoparticle characterisation using the Zetasizer Nano from Malvern Instruments is providing information for researchers working on drug delivery systems at the UK’s newest School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences - at the University of Central Lancashire. It is developing a multi-disciplinary approach to research, focusing on important areas of pharmaceutical sciences and practice. One such is pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical analysis where research teams are working with a range of colloidal systems for drug delivery, including microspheres, aerosols and dendrimers. “As part of our work we are developing a range of nanocarriers for oral drug delivery,” said
Prof. D’Emanuele. “It is here that the Zetasizer Nano has proved especially
useful in allowing us to characterise surface engineered dendrimers intended for this purpose.”

The fully automated Sysmex FPIA-3000, from Malvern Instruments, delivers size and shape data by measuring thousands of particles in just minutes. For abrasives there is a direct link
between particle shape and product efficacy, this information can help in the manufacture of improved materials. “Demand for increased abrasion accuracy has driven down the grain size of abrasives to the detriment of polishing efficiency,” said Ulf Willen, product manager for analytical imaging at Malvern Instruments. “Research has shown that there is a direct correlation
between circularity, a shape parameter, and polishing efficiency, so controlling shape is a way of offsetting this problem. We’re finding that manufacturers are using the Sysmex FPIA-3000 to fine tune manufacturing, and also for QC, to
make products that perform better and command a higher price.”

The often difficult challenge of selecting the right mixer for specific process applications is made easier when thorough testing is possible. At the Test & Development Center of Charles Ross & Son Company, a major leading manufacturer of mixing equipment, their Malvern Mastersizer particle size analyser is one of the analytical instruments used by customers during process simulations. Provided as complimentary service, it is used availed by customers from a wide range of industries and from around the world. Working at the test centre with
their own raw materials, customers simulate their processes using Ross mixing, blending and dispersion systems. The Mastersizer is applied during the course of process optimisation and verification, as an aid to selecting the proper mixing equipment and correct process conditions.

A range of on-demand presentations on the Malvern Instruments
website provides expert guidance for analysts involved
in making rheology measurements. These include ‘best measurement
practice for capillary rheology’, and guides for making dynamic
or oscillatory measurements on a rotational rheometer,
focusing on ‘good measurement practice’ and ‘avoiding measurement
artefacts’. ‘Best measurement practice for capillary rheology’
provides tips and guidance to ensure precise, accurate testing
every time, from sample loading to basic instrument control
through to more advanced measurement options. Also available
are a basic introduction to rheology and presentations
illustrating the link between rheology and particle properties,
such as size distribution, shape and zeta potential.

A key feature of the new Morphologi G3 automated particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments is a novel, fully integrated Sample Unit (SDU). Morphologi G3 provides microscope quality images and delivers statistically significant data through the rapid analysis of hundreds of thousands of particles, with little or no user intervention, giving information on both particle size and shape. The software-controlled dry powder dispersion system reduces sample preparation times, significantly improves repeatability of measurements and offers safer handling of hazardous substances. Reliable particle characterisation of dry powders requires strict control of dispersion
conditions - using the Morphologi G3 ensures highly reproducible measurements across a broad range of samples.

Researchers at TopChim, a developer of materials and technology solutions for the paper industry, have integrated the Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments into the company’s nanoscience development program. One of the first nanoparticle technologies to result from the program was made available commercially last year. The patented NanoTope technology is used in paper production surface treatment and is designed to improve properties without the need for a coating. The Zetasizer Nano’s role in the development and manufacture of NanoTope has been two-fold: first in supporting the creation of a stable monodisperse suspension of nanoparticles of defined size; and second in quality control, to ensure the production of consistent materials. This has resulted in good understanding and control of those parameters affecting product performance.

The recently introduced Morphologi G3, from Malvern, is making its Analytica debut this month. This powerful analytical tool delivers high quality, statistically significant particle size and shape information, together with microscope quality images, through the rapid analysis of hundreds of thousands of particles. As with any analytical procedure, good sample preparation is critical and a major development in the Morphologi G3 is the novel fully integrated dry powder dispersion system, which ensures highly reproducible dispersion with consistent and controlled particle orientation. Alongside will be the Zetasizer Nano particle and molecular characterisation system whose new chromatography flowmode option allows its use as an in-line chromatography detector for protein applications.

Malvern Instruments has released ISys 5.0, the latest version of the company’s chemical imaging analysis software. Rapidly becoming the industry standard for analysing chemical imaging data, ISys is powerful and flexible, and ideal for use on a variety of analytical systems. From basic pre-processing to statistical
analyses and pattern recognition algorithms, chemometric tools, and more recently domain (particle) analyses - ISys does it all with ease. ISys turns images to answers for a variety of chemical imaging techniques, providing one software platform that can be used to analyse many different kinds of data. ISys 5.0 has the ability not only to analyse mapping and imaging data from mid-infrared and Raman platforms but the nearinfrared spectral range
as well.

Knowledge and understanding of particle shape as well as size is now essential in the development and control of many industrial processes. The Morphologi G3 automated particle characterisation system from Malvern Instruments is a new analytical tool that provides high quality, statistically significant
particle size and shape information. The G3 builds on the success of its G2 predecessor, adding a new fully automated sample dispersion device and significantly extending automation
and options for visualisation and data analysis. The system provides microscope quality images and delivers statistically significant data through the rapid analysis of hundreds of thousands of particles with little or no user
intervention.

Iota NanoSolutions specialises in the formation of nanodispersions of poorly soluble organic materials. For the past 18 months the company has been using the Malvern Instruments Zetasizer Nano particle characterisation system as part of its sample optimisation and quality control processes. Iota’s
technology enables the conversion of hydrophobic organic materials into a dry solid format, which when added to water rapidly forms colloidally stable nanodispersions of the actives. The nanodisperions are often transparent with nanoparticles of the active
present at high concentration. Iota uses the Zetasizer Nano on a daily basis to measure the particle size and stability of the dispersions.