Effect of sampling on precision of particle size analysis

Sampling plays a very important role in determining the particle size distributions of particulate systems. In this study the effects of sampling on the precision of particle size analysis were studied on a wide-size-distribution clay sample using light scattering technique. Three different sampling methods were used. The effectiveness of the applied methods were compared by calculating the coefficient of variance (C.O.V.) values of the 10, 50 and 90% passing size data of the sequential runs. The most effective sampling method was determined based on obtaining the minimum C.O.V. values. In the second part of the study the results of size distribution analysis conducted by different particle size analyzers were compared using the most effective sampling technique developed in the first part.