How Can I Measure Particle Characteristics for My Water Filtration System?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around measuring various characteristics of polymer particles used in a water filtration system. Participants explore methods for determining surface area, diameter, surface roughness, and particle size, focusing on both practical measurement techniques and the reliability of manufacturer data.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests contacting the manufacturer of the polymer particles for information on surface area, diameter, and other characteristics.
  • Another participant proposes using a ruler to estimate measurements, although they question whether volume might be a more relevant factor for one of the characteristics.
  • A third participant notes that the ability to measure these characteristics depends on the size of the particles, referencing a colleague's experience with 800 nm diameter beads and the need for self-characterization due to inaccurate manufacturer data.
  • There is a question raised about the specific size range of the particles, whether they are in millimeters, microns, or nanometers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best methods for measurement, and multiple viewpoints regarding the reliability of manufacturer data and practical measurement techniques remain present.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the size range of the particles, which may affect the measurement techniques discussed. There is also a lack of clarity on the definitions of surface area and surface roughness in the context of the specific particles being measured.

bashir_breakah
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Hello everybody:

First of all I will tell you a little about my work, I'm working with the filters as a pretreatment of water,and the main media of my filter is polymer particles (beads),and I need to do some calculations and measurments on the particles ,so please I need your help:

How can I measure these factors:

1- surface area of the beads ( particles )? can I measure it individually?

2- diameter of the beads

3- surface roughness..

4- size of the particles

I'm waiting for your answer.

Bashir
 
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First I would suggest that you ask the manufacturer of the polymer particles if they have this info. I would be surprised if they didn't.
 
firstly bashir do you have a ruler? then you can estimate 3 of the above, but i think the fourth option is the volume

?? WERD!
 
The answer to all these questions will depend primarily on the rough size of your particles. A colleague of mine works with polymer beads 800 nm in diameter on average - moreover he did have to characterise the size of the beads and their statistical distribution himself because the manufacturer's data was quite inaccurate.

So what size range are we talking here, mm, microns, nm?

Claude.
 

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