Characterization of paracetamol agglomerates by image analysis and strength measurement

Paracetamol is crystallized in different solvents and techniques are developed and used to characterize the product. The product particles from three different solvent compositions: ethylene glycol, acetone and an acetone-water mixture (30-70 wt.%) have been examined. Product properties visually observed are quantified by image analysis and evaluation of measured image descriptors with Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The agglomerate strength has been determined by crushing single agglomerates. Depending on the solvent, the content of single crystals and agglomerates differ. Agglomerates differ by the number and size of crystals grown together, as well as by the strength. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.