POWDERS

Unit III
Powders
◦ Historically, powder represent one of the oldest dosage forms.
◦ They are natural outgrown of man’s attempt to prepare crude drugs and other natural products in a more
conveniently administered form.
◦ However, with declining use of crude drugs and increasing use of many highly potent compounds,
powders as a dosage form have been replaced by capsules and tablets.
Powders advantages and disadvantages
◦ Flexibility in compounding.
◦ Relatively good chemical stability
◦ They are time consuming to prepare.
◦ They are not well suited for the dispensing of
many unpleasant- tasting, hygroscopic or
deliquescent drugs.
◦ Inaccuracy of dispensing when in the form of
bulk powders
Small – scale manufacturing
◦ Trituration – the process of reducing substances to fine particles by rubbing them in a mortar with a
pestle.
◦ Pulverization by intervention – the process of reducing the state of subdivision of solids with the aid of
an additional volatile material which can be removed easily after the pulverization has been completed.
Examples of this method are:
◦ Pulverization of camphor with the aid of alcohol or other volatile solvents.
◦ Comminution of iodine crystals in the presence of a small quantity of ether.
◦ Levigation – the process of first forming a paste by the addition of a suitable nonsolvent to the solid
material. Particle size reduction is then accomplished by rubbing the paste in a mortar with a pestle or on
an ointment slab using spatula.
 Watch this video for pulverization by intervention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9QAqXIBT1I

Watch this video for Levigation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4vzxzk7Cqg
Large – scale manufacturing
◦ Makes use of high speed machines for reducing the size of particles or aggregates sieves or screens for
size classification and distribution and mixers which produce a complete blend rapidly with as gentle as
possible a mixing action to avoid product damage.
◦ However, the following procedures should receive special attention.
◦ Use of geometric dilution for the incorporation of small amount of potent drugs.
◦ Reduction of particle size of all ingredients to the same range to prevent stratification of large and small particles.
◦ Sieving when necessary to achieve mixing or reduction of agglomerates, especially in the preparation of dusting
powders into which liquids have been incorporated.
◦ Heavy trituration, when applicable, to reduce the bulkiness of a powder.
◦ Protection against humidity, air oxidation and loss of volatile ingredients.
Comminution
◦ A particle size reduction or process of reducing larger solid unit masses to smaller sizes by mechanical means or
milling. Used to aid processing to improve solubility up to certain extent and reduce the bulk volume.

Principal means of Milling

◦ Cutting/shearing
◦ Compressing
◦ Rolling
◦ Attrition
◦ Impact
Blending/ Mixing of powders
◦ Spatulation
◦ Trituration
◦ Geometric dilution
◦ Sifting
◦ Tumbling
Powders are most commonly prepared as
divided powders or bulk powders.
◦ Divided powders
◦ Dispensed in the form of individual doses and packed in papers, properly folded, pouches made of metal foil, small
heat-sealed plastic bags or other containers. It also called Chartulae, paper tabs, and “papelitos”
Types of Papers
◦ White bond paper – “opaque paper”, no moisture
◦ Glassine paper – “glazed paper”, transparent paper, moisture resistant
◦ Vegetable parchment – transparent, thin, semi-opaque and moisture resistance
◦ Waxed paper – transparent and water proof paper.
Terms:
◦ Hygroscopic – absorbs moisture but does not dissolve
◦ Deliquescent – absorbs moisture and eventually dissolves
◦ Efflorescent – release water of crystallization
◦ Effervescent – release carbon dioxide gas in water.
◦ Bulk powders are mixed with water or other suitable material prior to administration. They may be
classified as:
◦ Oral powders
◦ Dentifrices
◦ Douche powders
◦ Dusting powders
◦ Insufflations
◦ Triturations
◦ Aerosols