PHARMACEUTICAL POWDER

Dr.M.M.Gupta
B.Pharm., M.Pharm., MBA, Ph.D, FICS, FIAPST, FABSc
Senior Lecturer ( Pharmaceutics)
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences
The University of the West Indies, Trinidad, WI

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DEFINITION

A Pharmaceutical powder is a mixture of

finely divided drugs or chemicals in a dry
form meant for internal or external use.

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ADVANTAGES
Flexibility of compounding-easy to prepare
Good chemical stability
Rapid dissolution due to small particle size
Fast action and better bioavailability

DISADVANTAGES
Time-consuming preparation
Inaccuracy of dose( size of measuring spoon)
Unsuitability for many unpleasant tasting, hygroscopic and
deliquescent drugs

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CLASSIFICATION
Based on Usage
Powders for External use
Powders for Internal use

Based on quantity
Bulk Powders
Divided Powders

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Fundamental and Derived Properties
The size distribution and surface area of powders are
two fundamental properties of any collection of
particles.

Derived properties are based on fundamental

properties

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Bulk Volume, True Volume, Void Volume

Area of green is true volume of 3

spherical particle, brown is void
space between the particles and
the container wall indicated in red
line.

The total area around red line is

called as bulk volume of particles

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Bulk Volume, True Volume, Void Volume

A powder is placed in a graduated cylinder and total volume

occupied known as bulk volume, Vb.

The bulk volume of powder consists of the true volume of

solid particles plus the volume of the spaces between
particles known as the void volume, i.e.

Vb = V+Vp
where Vp is true volume and V is the void volume

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 POROSITY
If the powder is nonporous and has no internal pores or capillary
spaces then bulk volume and true volume are same.
The porosity or voids
ε = Vb-Vp = 1- Vp
Vb Vb

Porosity is generally expressed in present in % = ε x 100

DENSITIES OF PARTICLES
Basically density is defined as weight per unit volume.
D= M/V
Three types of densities are
Bulk density
Granule density
True density. 8
 VARIOUS DENSITIES

Bulk density [Inter Granule density True density [Both

particle and intra [Intra particle intra particle and
particle spaces spaces included] inter particle spaces
included] excluded i.e., actual
volume of particle]
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 BULK DENSITY

Bulk density is defined as the mass of a powder divided by

the bulk volume.

On the basis of bulk volume, powders may be classified

as, "light" and "heavy".

Light powders have high bulk volume.

The bulk density of a powder depends mainly on particle

size distribution, particle shape and the tendency of
particles to adhere to one another.

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ANGLE OF REPOSE
The flow characteristics are
measured by angle of repose;
θ

This is the maximum angle

possible between the surface
of a pile of powder and the
horizontal plane.

tan θ = h/r = µ
h- height of pile,
r- radius of the base of pile,
θ -Angle of repose

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 ANGLE OF REPOSE

The rougher and more Relationship between

irregular the surface of angle of repose and
the particles, the higher powder flow
will be the angle of
Angle Of Type Of
repose. Repose Flow
( In degree)

Flow property can be <25 Excellent

improved by adding
glidant 25-30 Good

30-40 Passable

>40 Very poor

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 Pharmaceutical Technology involved in the
Manufacturing of Powders

Comminution of Trituration
Drugs (Particle Size Pulverization by Intervention
reduction of drugs) Levigation

Blending of Powders Spatulation

Geometric Dilution
Shifting
Tumbling

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 TRITURATION

used to comminute( reduce particle size) & to mix powders.

A porcelain preferred than glass mortar

A glass mortar is preferable for chemicals those stain a

porcelain

When granular or crystalline materials are to be

incorporated in to powdered product ,these materials are
comminuted individually and then blended together in the
mortar.

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 PULVERIZATION BY INTERVENTION
Substance are reduced & subdivided with an additional
material ( i.e solvent) that can be removed easily after
pulverization is complete.

This technique is applied to substances which are

gummy and tend to re-agglomerate or which resist
grinding.

As camphor which is gummy, so addition of alcohol or

other volatile solvent can be reduced readily to a fine
powder.
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 LEVIGATION
In this process

Paste is first formed by the addition of a suitable non

solvent (Levigating agent) to the solid material.

Particle-size reduction then accomplished by rubbing the

paste in a mortar with a pestle or on an ointment’ slab using
a spatula.

Mineral oil and glycerin are generally used as levigating

agent

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 BLENDING OR MIXING POWDERS

SPATULATION
Mixing is done using spatula and tile or Sheet

useful for solid substances that liquefy or form eutectic

mixtures (i.e., mixtures that melt at a lower temperature
than any of their ingredients; when in close, prolonged
contact with one another)

Not suitable for potent drug

Lack of homogenous mixing

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 GEOMETRIC DILUTION
Use for the incorporation of small amounts of potent
drugs.

The potent drug and an approximately equal volume of

diluent are placed in a mortar and thoroughly mixed.

A second portion of diluent, equal in volume to the powder

mixture in the mortar is added and trituration is repeated.

The process is continued until all of the diluent is

incorporated.

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 BLENDING OR MIXING POWDER: Cont
SIFTING
Powders are mixed by passing them through sifters
similar to those used to sift flour.

This process results in a light, fluffy product. Usually, it is

not acceptable for incorporating potent drugs into a
diluent base.

TUMBLING
process of mixing powders in a large container rotated
by a motorized process.

These blenders are widely used in industry

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 BULK POWDER

CLASSIFIED as-
Oral powders,
Dentifrices,
Douche powders,
Dusting powders,
Insuffiations
Triturations

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 ORAL POWDER

These generally are supplied as finely divided powders

or effervescent granules.

The finely divided powders are intended to be

suspended or dissolved in water or mixed with soft
foods, e.g, applesauce, prior to administration.

Antacids and laxative powders frequently are

administered in this form

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 EFFERVESCENT GRANULES
Contain sodium bicarbonate and either citric acid, tartaric
acid or sodium biphosphate in addition to the active
ingredients.

On solution in water, carbon dioxide is released as a result

of the acid-base reaction.

The effervescence from the release of the carbon dioxide

serves to mask the taste of salty or bitter medications.

The completed product must be dispensed in tightly closed

glass containers to protect it against the humidity of the air.
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EFFERVESCENT GRANULES- Preparation
DRY OR FUSION METHOD :
Porcelain dish must be heat sufficiently before transferring the
powder into it.
The water needed for granulation is provided from two sources
1. water of crystallization from citric acid ( liberate during heating)
2. The water produced from the reaction of citric acid and tartaric
acid with sodium bicarbonate
The mixture will become damp while heating at 400 C due to
water
Then the damp mass passed through sieve to produce
granules.

WET METHOD-
water/alcohol used to prepare wet mass which is passed
through sieve to produce granules

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DENTRIFRICES
These may be prepared for teeth and available in the
form of a bulk powder, generally containing a soap or
detergent, and mild abrasive agent.

DOUCHE POWDERS
Products are completely soluble and are intended to be
dissolved in water prior to use as antiseptics or
cleansing agents for a body cavity.

Most commonly are intended for vaginal use, although

they may be formulated for nasal, otic or ophthalmic
use.

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 DUSTING POWDER
These are locally applied nontoxic preparations that are
intended to have no systemic action.

They always should be dispensed in a very fine state to

enhance effectiveness and minimize irritation.

Dusting powders are applied to various parts of the body

as lubricants, protective, absorbents, antiseptics.

One of the component is starch, talc powder

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 INSUFFLATIONS
These are finely divided powders introduced into body
cavities such as the ears, nose, throat, tooth sockets
and vagina.

An insufflator (powder blower) usually is employed to

administer these products.

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 DIVIDED POWDERS

Dispensed in individual doses, usually in folded papers.

Also be dispensed in metal foil, small heat-sealed or re-

sealable plastic bags, or other containers.

After the ingredients are weighed, comminuted, and mixed,

the powders must be accurately divided into the prescribed
number of doses.

Depending on the potency of the drug substance, the

pharmacist decides whether to weigh each portion
separately before packaging or to approximate portions by
the block-and-divide method.
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 Papers Used to Pack Individual Powders

Four basic types are used:

Vegetable parchment is a thin, semi opaque, moisture-
resistant paper.

White bond is an opaque paper that has no moisture-

resistant properties.

Glassine is a glazed, transparent, moisture-resistant paper.

Waxed paper is a transparent waterproof paper used for

Hygroscopic and volatile drugs

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Special Problems Associated with Powders
VOLATILE SUBSTANCES –
The loss by volatilization may be prevented or retarded by
use of heat-sealed plastic bags or by double wrapping
with a waxed or glassine paper inside of a bond paper.

HYGROSCOPIC AND DELIQUESCENT SUBSTANCES

become moist because of an affinity for moisture in the air
can be prepared as divided powders by adding inert
diluents.

Double wrapping is desirable for further protection.

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 EUTECTIC MIXTURES
Mixtures that melt at a lower temperature than any of
their ingredients; when in close, prolonged contact with
one another
Example: camphor and menthol

Solution: Can be minimized by using inert diluents

Magnesium carbonate or light magnesium oxide are used

commonly and effective diluents for this purpose,
although kaolin, starch, bentonite and other absorbents
have been recommended.

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 PACKAGING AND LABELING

Hygroscopic, deliquescent, or volatile powders- packed in

glass jars rather than pasteboard containers.

Amber or green glass for light-sensitive components.

Should be stored in tightly closed containers.

Products for external use must indicate “For External Use

Only” on the label

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Powder

THANK
YOU

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