Estimation of Particle Size Distribution from Bulk Scattering Spectra: Validation on Monomodal Suspensions

A particle size distribution (PSD) estimation method based on light-scattering properties was validated on experimental visible/near-infrared scattering spectra of polystyrene suspensions, with a nominal particle size ranging from 0.1 to 12 mu m in diameter. On the basis of mu(s) and g spectra extracted from double integrating sphere measurements, good PSD estimates were obtained for particles >= 1 mu m. The particle volume fraction estimates in the case of mu(s) were close to the target concentrations, although influenced by small baseline fluctuations on the spectra. For submicrometer particles, on the other hand, the non-oscillating mu(s) spectra lack discriminating power, resulting in erroneous PSD estimates. The reduced scattering coefficient spectra (mu(s)') were found less useful for particle size estimation as they lack a characteristic shape, causing an over- or underestimation of the distribution width. In summary, the estimation routine proved to deliver PSD estimates in line with the reference measurements for micrometer-sized or larger particles based on their mu(s) and g scattering spectra. Additional validation on more polydisperse samples forms the next step before going to bimodal PSD estimates.