PHYSICAL PHARMACEUTICS- II (Practical)
EXPERIMENT NO. 6
Determination of Sedimentation volume with the effect of different suspending
agents
AIM
To determine the sedimentation volume with the effect of different
suspending agents
THEORY
• The physical stability is defined as the condition in which the particles remain
uniformly distributed throughout the dispersion without any signs of
sedimentation. It is difficult to achieve this condition.
• Hence the definition can be restated as – if the particle settle, they should be
easily resuspendable by a moderate amount of shaking
• Therefore the extend of sedimentation and easy of redispersibility are to
be evaluated by appropriate methods
• The method should be simple and easy
• Application of the stokes law is tedious, because many parameters are involved
and each of them have to be evaluated separately.
THEORY (Cont’d)
• Sedimentation volume (F) is defined as
F = 𝑉𝑢
𝑉𝑜
• Where, 𝑉𝑢 = Final or ultimate volume of sediment
𝑉𝑜= Original volume of suspension before settling
• A suspending agent is a substance that increases viscosity of a suspension. So
that sedimentation is retarded
• The presence of suspending agent is required to overcome agglomeration of
the dispersed particles and to increase the viscosity of the medium
• So that particles may settle down easily. These suspending agents decreases
sedimentation volume, ease redispersibility, enhance poor ability and prevent
compact formation
REQUIREMENT
• Suspending agent can be classified as
Synthetic
Semi-synthetic
Natural polysaccharide
Examples of suspending agents are: tragacanth, bentonite, guar gum, sodium
alginate, carboxy methyl cellulose, etc
REQUIREMENT
• Chemicals: Calcium carbonate, Bentonite, Tragacanth, Guar gum, xanthan
gum, distilled water
• Apparatus: Measuring cylinder (100 ml), beaker, glass rod, mortar and
pestle
Table 1: Preparation of calcium carbonate suspension
Ingredients Official formula Working formula
Calcium carbonate 17.47 g
Bentonite 0.17g
Guar gum 0.17g
Tragacanth 0.17g
Xanthan gum 0.17g
Water (q.s.) upto 100 ml
REQUIREMENT
Note: All the suspending agents are used in the concentration of 1%
PROCEDURE
Step 1: Preparation of Suspension
1. Required quantity of calcium carbonate is weighed and transferred to a
mortar
2. 50 ml of water is added and triturate to get a smooth paste
3. Bentonite (1%w/v) are added gradually with constant stirring to above
solution
4. The mixture is transferred to the 100 ml measuring cylinder
5. The mortar and pestle are washed with 10 ml of water (2-3 times if
necessary)
6. Then the washing are transferred to a measuring cylinder
7. The volume is made upto the mark (100ml) by adding water
8. The procedure is repeated using other suspending agent (i.e
tragacanth, guar gum, xanthan gum)
PROCEDURE
Step 2: Determination of sedimentation volume
1. The suspension in the cylinder is shaken thoroughly to make a uniform
distribution
2. The cylinder is kept undisturbed on a flat surface after shaking
3. The volume of sedimentation volume at different interval of every 10
minutes is measured
4. The sedimentation volume is determined by using the formula F = 𝑉𝑢
𝑉𝑜
OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION
Volume of Sedimentation
Time Tragacanth Bentonite Xanthan gum Guar gum
(in min)
0 (𝑉𝑜 ) 100 100 100 100
10 99 99 99 100
20 98 97 98 99
30 97 95 97 98
40 96 92 94 98
50 95 90 92 97
60 (𝑉𝑢 ) 95 90 92 97
Sedimentation =95/100 =0.95 =90/100 = 0.9 =92/100=0.92
volume( 𝑉𝑢 )
𝑉𝑜
REPORT
The sedimentation volume with effect of different suspending agent was
determined and reported
Experiment Videos
1. [Link]
qvz7XrCJ_5v30J&index=4
2. [Link]
qvz7XrCJ_5v30J&index=8&t=168s
