Presented BY:
KOUSHIK AGARWALA
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
05/CHE/30
HALDIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
 INTRODUCTION
The basis of nanotechnology is the ability to form nano-
sized particles, for example nano powders, which are
solid particles that measure on the nano scale, usually
comprised of three to five molecules together. Nano
powders have been of extreme interest in the
pharmaceutical field. Moreover,they are also used in
the ceramics, electronics, and in the production of
metals with no dislocations.
Methods of production
There are several methods for the production of Nano
powders the conventional methods like particle size
reduction include milling, grinding, jet milling, crushing, and
air micronization, but there are several drawbacks with these
methods.
 
Three Different methods of production of Nano Powders are
1) Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Fluids
2) Particle from Gas Saturated Solution
3) Depressurization of an Expanded Liquid
Organic Solution
Rapid Expansion of Super critical
Fluids (RESS)
It is a crystallization technique and uses the properties
of supercritical fluid. The super critical fluid is mainly
CO2 it mainly acts as solvent in the production of Nano
powder. The driving force is rapid de pressurization of
super critical fluid (CO2) dissolved in solute of interest
through a nozzle to cause fast nucleation and fine
particle generation.
Flow diagram of ress process
Advantages and disadvantages
The Advantage of this process is that since it is operated
at high pressure the temperature required is fairly low.
This lowers the energy cost and since CO2 is non
hazardous gas, so no environmental considerations have
to be taken into account. 
The Disadvantages are that due to high pressure the
cost of pumping and production cost are high and the
equipments used are also fairly large in number.
Particle from Gas Saturated Solution
The Particle from Gas Saturated Solution (PGSS) process
uses a SCF, usually CO2, as a solute to crystallize a
solution. The PGSS process can be used to create micro
sized particles with the ability to control particle size
distribution. The driving force of the PGSS is a sudden
temperature drop of the solution below the melting
point of the solvent. This occurs as the solution is
expanded from a working pressure to atmospheric
conditions due to the Joule-Thompson effect. The rapid
cooling produces amorphous powder which is mainly
used in pharmaceutical industries
Flow diagram of pgss process
Advantages and Disadvantages
In this method there is no need for the solvent to form
Nano powder. All that is needed is solute and super
critical fluid. Lack of solvent means product formed is
much more pure. We can produce nano powders for
wide range of materials.
The disadvantages are that although at higher working
pressures dissolution becomes more effective, there are
compounds for which a Super Critical Fluid can have low
solubility.
Nano powder produced by (pgss)
Process
Depressurization of an Expanded
Liquid Organic Solution
In the (DELOS) model the super critical fluid acts
as a co solvent for the formation of micro sized
particles. The (DELOS) process is mainly used to
Organic compounds with Organic solvents.The
driving force for the DELOS process is a fast and
large temperature drop. This occurs when the
pressurized solution is expanded from a working
pressure to Atmospheric pressure.
Flow diagram of delos process
Advantage and Disadvantages
The main advantage of (DELOS) is the encapsulation and
it’s a very cost effective and nano powders formed are
much more pure and highest quality.
The disadvantage is that solubility is limited and reaches
saturation very fast and the products formed are not in
spherical shape and needs to treat by other techniques
to produce spherical shapes which are costly. The Shape
of the crystals formed are dendrite and cylindrical in
form.
Nano powder produced by (DELOS)
Process
 Applications of Nano Powders
Ceramics used in nano sized powders are more ductile at elevated
temperatures compared to coarse grained ceramics and can be
sintered at low temperatures.
Nano sized powders of iron and copper have hardness about 4-6
times higher than the bulk materials.
Nano sized copper and silver are used in conducting ink and
polymers.
Nano powder has various applications in the pharmaceutical and
medical field.
From nanotechnology we can be able to understand the living cells.
 Magnetic nano particles can act as sensors to detect the cancer cells
Gold coated Nano particles are used to detect HIV viruses.
Comparison of the processes
TOPIC RESS PGSS DELOS
Application Small Mol High purity Large Mol

Role of SCF Solvent Solute Co Solvent

Driving force Pressure Temperature Temperature

Working pressure SCF Morphology SCF

Dependence
Working temperature SCF Highest SCF
dependence
Length of procedure 2 Steps 2 Steps 3 Steps

Particle size Micro & Nano Micro & Nano Micro & Nano

Encapsulation Yes Yes Yes

Conclusion
In the recent years the demand for nano powders are
increased drastically because of its wide range of
applications by producing Nano powder with metals like
aluminum, iron and copper. This Novel technology is
used in the production of aluminum powder which has
applications in aviation industry.
THANK YOU..
Questions…..?