Powders are mixtures of active drug and excipients that usually are sold in the form of powder papers. The powder is contained inside a folded and sealed piece of special paper.
lndian Pharmacopoeia has prescribed standards for powders for pharmaceutical purposes.
Accordingly, degree of coarseness or fineness is expressed with reference to the nominal aperture size of sieve through which powder is able to pass.
A) Coarse Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 1.70 mm (Sieve No. 10 ) and not more than 40% pass through nominal mesh aperture of 355 µm (Sieve No. 44) is called a Coarse Powder.
B) Moderately Coarse Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 710 µm (Sieve No. 22) and not more than 40% pass through nominal mesh aperture of 250 µm (Sieve No. 60) is called a Moderately Coarse Powder.
C) Moderately Fine Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 355 µm (Sieve No. 44) and not more than 40% pass through nominal mesh aperture of 180 µm (Sieve No. 85) is called a Moderately Fine Powder.
D) Fine Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 180 µm (Sieve No. 85) is called a Fine Powder.
E) Very Fine Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 125 µm (Sieve No. 120) is called a Fine Powder.
Grades of Powder an overview –
pharmaceutical industry: Other solid dosage forms. Powders are mixtures of active drug and excipients that usually are sold in the form of powder papers. The powder is contained inside a folded and sealed piece of special paper.
lndian Pharmacopoeia has prescribed standards for powders for pharmaceutical purposes.
Accordingly, degree of coarseness or fineness is expressed with reference to the nominal aperture size of sieve through which powder is able to pass.
A) Coarse Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 1.70 mm (Sieve No. 10 ) and not more than 40% pass through nominal mesh aperture of 355 µm (Sieve No. 44) is called a Coarse Powder.
B) Moderately Coarse Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 710 µm (Sieve No. 22) and not more than 40% pass through nominal mesh aperture of 250 µm (Sieve No. 60) is called a Moderately Coarse Powder.
C) Moderately Fine Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 355 µm (Sieve No. 44) and not more than 40% pass through nominal mesh aperture of 180 µm (Sieve No. 85) is called a Moderately Fine Powder.
D) Fine Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 180 µm (Sieve No. 85) is called a Fine Powder.
E) Very Fine Powder:
A powder, all the particles of which pass through a sieve with nominal mesh aperture of 125 µm (Sieve No. 120) is called a Fine Powder.
The 7 essential properties of powders you should know
Particle size of powders.
Density of powders.
Flow of powders.
Hygroscopicity of powders.
Solubility of powders.
Wettability of powders.
Dispersibility of powders.
Official standards/Grades of powders | Indian Pharmacopoeia –
A) Coarse Powder
B) Moderately Coarse Powder
C) Moderately Fine Powder:
D) Fine Powder
E) Very Fine Powder
f) Microfine powder
G) Superfine powder
Moderately coarse 22 60 Moderately fine 44 85 Fine 85 Not specified Very fine 120 Not specified The IP specifies a second, smaller size of sieve for the coarser powders but states the not more than 40 per cent shall pass through.
Types. Many manufactured goods come in powder form, such as flour, sugar, ground coffee, powdered milk, copy machine toner, gunpowder, cosmetic powders, and some pharmaceuticals. In nature, dust, fine sand and snow, volcanic ash, and the top layer of the lunar regolith are also examples.
Pharmaceutical powders are governed by the Indian Pharmacopoeia. According to the I.P., powders can be categorized into five types: Coarse powder – An all-purpose powder! Fine powders are defined as material that passes a sieve with an aperture of 1.7 millimeters (No.)
USP grade meets or exceeds requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). This grade is acceptable for food, drug, or medicinal use. It is also used for most laboratory purposes, but the USP being followed should always be reviewed prior to beginning to ensure the grade is appropriate for that methodology.
addition to USP, there are three other large pharmacopeias in the world, the European Pharmacopoeia (EP), the British Pharmacopoeia (BP), and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), all of which share the goal of publishing and producing quality standards for pharmaceuticals.
Primarily used to set liquid foundation/concealer so that the makeup lasts longer and does not move around, or rub off of your skin. Pressed powders can also be formed into foundations and used as a base for your entire makeup routine, or added to liquid foundation to build up coverage.
Food Chemical Codex
FCC Grade—Products that meet the requirements of the current Food Chemical Codex. GenAR—A line of reagents specifically developed for use in biotechnology and genetic research. Lab Grade—A line of solvents suitable for histology methods and general laboratory applications.
NF grade is a purity grade set by the National Formulary (NF). NF grade is equivalent to the ACS grade for many drugs. British Pharmacopoeia: Meets or exceeds requirements set by the British Pharmacopoeia (BP). Can be used for food, drug, and medical purposes, and also for most laboratory purposes.
Bulk powders refer to a mixture of all the materials (usually non-potent drugs), packed into a properly designed bulk containers, such as a tight, wide-mouthed glass or plastic bottle, and are intended for either internal or external administration. The major problem of bulk powders is the inaccuracy of dose.
Powders are solid dosage form containing dry mixtures of finely divided drug substance(s) and excipients intended for internal or external use. Although the use of powders as a dosage form has been replaced largely by the use of tablets and capsules in modern medicine, they represent one of the oldest dosage forms and present certain advantages that have led to their continued use as pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Powders can be classified in various ways and these include
Classification based on use
Classification based on particle size and
Classification based on dispensing/ by the way they are presented to the user.
1.Classification of powders based on use
Based on use, pharmaceutical powders can be classified as powders for internal use or powders for external use. These are briefly described as follows:
a. Pharmaceutical powders for internal use
Pharmaceutical powders for internal use are preparations consisting of solid, loose, dry particles of varying degrees of fine particle size that contain one or more active substances, with or without excipients. Powders for internal use can be taken orally (e.g., Oral powders), administered through the nose as snuffs, or blown into a body cavity as an insufflation.
b. Pharmaceutical powders for external use
Topical powders also known as powders for cutaneous application or powders for external use are preparations consisting of solid, loose, dry particles of varying degrees of fineness. They contain one or more active substances, with or without excipients and, if necessary, appropriate coloring matter.
2.Classification of powders based on particle size
After preparation powders are classified according to their particle size. In order to qualify the particle size of a given powder, the USP uses the following descriptive terms:
a. Very coarse (No. 8) powder: All particles pass through a No. 8 sieve (2.38 mm) and not more than 20% pass through a No. 60 sieve.
b. Coarse (No. 20) powder: All particles pass through a No. 20 sieve (0.84 mm) and not more than 40% pass through a No. 60 sieve.
c.
. Moderately coarse (No. 40) powder: All particles pass through a No. 40 sieve (0.42 mm) and not more than 40 % pass through a No. 80 sieve.
d. Fine (No. 60) powder: All particles pass through a No. 60 sieve (0.25 mm) and not more than 40% pass through a No. 100 sieve.
e. Very fine (No. 80) powder: All particles pass through a No. 80 sieve (0.18 mm). There is no limit to greater fineness.
3.. Classification of powders based on dispensing
Pharmaceutical powders are classified based on dispensing or by the way they are presented to the user into bulk or divided powders.
a. Bulk powders
Bulk powders refer to a mixture of all the materials (usually non-potent drugs), packed into a properly designed bulk containers, such as a tight, wide-mouthed glass or plastic bottle, and are intended for either internal or external administration. The major problem of bulk powders is the inaccuracy of dose.
The dose of bulk powders can be affected by many factors, including
1.the measuring device (spoon)
storage humidity
degree of settling and
patient factors.
The dose of bulk powder may vary for patients using differently sized spoons, or even those using the same spoon according to their technique. In addition, drugs present in the bulk powders are better suited, if they have a wider therapeutic window, a large dose, and pleasant taste.
Among the bulk powders available in prepackaged amounts are
antacids (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) and laxatives (e.g., psyllium [Metamucil]), which the patient takes by mixing with water or other beverages before swallowing;
douche powders (e.g., Massengill powder), dissolved in warm water by the patient for vaginal use;
medicated powders for external application to the skin, usually topical anti-infectives (e.g., bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate) or antifungals (e.g., tolnaftate); and
brewer’s yeast powder containing B-complex vitamins and other nutritional supplements.
b. Divided powders
Divided powders, or chartulae, are single doses of powdered drug mixtures individually enclosed in paper, plastic laminates, or metallic foil wrappers or packets. Chartula, which is abbreviated as chart, is the Latin word for powder paper.
The divided powder is a more accurate dosage form than bulk powder because the patient is not involved in measurement of the dose.
A number of commercially prepared premeasured products are available in folded papers or packets, including headache powders (e.g., BC powders), powdered laxatives (e.g., psyllium mucilloid, cholestyramine resin), and douche powders (e.g., Massengill powder packets).
The 7 essential properties of powders you should know
Particle size of powders.
Density of powders.
Flow of powders.
Hygroscopicity of powders.
Solubility of powders.
Wettability of powders.
Dispersibility of powders.
Official standards/Grades of powders | Indian Pharmacopoeia –
A) Coarse Powder
B) Moderately Coarse Powder
C) Moderately Fine Powder:
D) Fine Powder
E) Very Fine Powder
f) Microfine powder
G) Superfine powder
Moderately coarse 22 60 Moderately fine 44 85 Fine 85 Not specified Very fine 120 Not specified The IP specifies a second, smaller size of sieve for the coarser powders but states the not more than 40 per cent shall pass through.
Types. Many manufactured goods come in powder form, such as flour, sugar, ground coffee, powdered milk, copy machine toner, gunpowder, cosmetic powders, and some pharmaceuticals. In nature, dust, fine sand and snow, volcanic ash, and the top layer of the lunar regolith are also examples.
Pharmaceutical powders are governed by the Indian Pharmacopoeia. According to the I.P., powders can be categorized into five types: Coarse powder – An all-purpose powder! Fine powders are defined as material that passes a sieve with an aperture of 1.7 millimeters (No.)
USP grade meets or exceeds requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). This grade is acceptable for food, drug, or medicinal use. It is also used for most laboratory purposes, but the USP being followed should always be reviewed prior to beginning to ensure the grade is appropriate for that methodology.
addition to USP, there are three other large pharmacopeias in the world, the European Pharmacopoeia (EP), the British Pharmacopoeia (BP), and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), all of which share the goal of publishing and producing quality standards for pharmaceuticals.
Primarily used to set liquid foundation/concealer so that the makeup lasts longer and does not move around, or rub off of your skin. Pressed powders can also be formed into foundations and used as a base for your entire makeup routine, or added to liquid foundation to build up coverage.
Food Chemical Codex
FCC Grade—Products that meet the requirements of the current Food Chemical Codex. GenAR—A line of reagents specifically developed for use in biotechnology and genetic research. Lab Grade—A line of solvents suitable for histology methods and general laboratory applications.
NF grade is a purity grade set by the National Formulary (NF). NF grade is equivalent to the ACS grade for many drugs. British Pharmacopoeia: Meets or exceeds requirements set by the British Pharmacopoeia (BP). Can be used for food, drug, and medical purposes, and also for most laboratory purposes.
Bulk powders refer to a mixture of all the materials (usually non-potent drugs), packed into a properly designed bulk containers, such as a tight, wide-mouthed glass or plastic bottle, and are intended for either internal or external administration. The major problem of bulk powders is the inaccuracy of dose.
Powders are solid dosage form containing dry mixtures of finely divided drug substance(s) and excipients intended for internal or external use. Although the use of powders as a dosage form has been replaced largely by the use of tablets and capsules in modern medicine, they represent one of the oldest dosage forms and present certain advantages that have led to their continued use as pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Powders can be classified in various ways and these include
Classification based on use
Classification based on particle size and
Classification based on dispensing/ by the way they are presented to the user.
1.Classification of powders based on use
Based on use, pharmaceutical powders can be classified as powders for internal use or powders for external use. These are briefly described as follows:
a. Pharmaceutical powders for internal use
Pharmaceutical powders for internal use are preparations consisting of solid, loose, dry particles of varying degrees of fine particle size that contain one or more active substances, with or without excipients. Powders for internal use can be taken orally (e.g., Oral powders), administered through the nose as snuffs, or blown into a body cavity as an insufflation.
b. Pharmaceutical powders for external use
Topical powders also known as powders for cutaneous application or powders for external use are preparations consisting of solid, loose, dry particles of varying degrees of fineness. They contain one or more active substances, with or without excipients and, if necessary, appropriate coloring matter.
2.Classification of powders based on particle size
After preparation powders are classified according to their particle size. In order to qualify the particle size of a given powder, the USP uses the following descriptive terms:
a. Very coarse (No. 8) powder: All particles pass through a No. 8 sieve (2.38 mm) and not more than 20% pass through a No. 60 sieve.
b. Coarse (No. 20) powder: All particles pass through a No. 20 sieve (0.84 mm) and not more than 40% pass through a No. 60 sieve.
c.
. Moderately coarse (No. 40) powder: All particles pass through a No. 40 sieve (0.42 mm) and not more than 40 % pass through a No. 80 sieve.
d. Fine (No. 60) powder: All particles pass through a No. 60 sieve (0.25 mm) and not more than 40% pass through a No. 100 sieve.
e. Very fine (No. 80) powder: All particles pass through a No. 80 sieve (0.18 mm). There is no limit to greater fineness.
3.. Classification of powders based on dispensing
Pharmaceutical powders are classified based on dispensing or by the way they are presented to the user into bulk or divided powders.
a. Bulk powders
Bulk powders refer to a mixture of all the materials (usually non-potent drugs), packed into a properly designed bulk containers, such as a tight, wide-mouthed glass or plastic bottle, and are intended for either internal or external administration. The major problem of bulk powders is the inaccuracy of dose.
The dose of bulk powders can be affected by many factors, including
1.the measuring device (spoon)
storage humidity
degree of settling and
patient factors.
The dose of bulk powder may vary for patients using differently sized spoons, or even those using the same spoon according to their technique. In addition, drugs present in the bulk powders are better suited, if they have a wider therapeutic window, a large dose, and pleasant taste.
Among the bulk powders available in prepackaged amounts are
antacids (e.g., sodium bicarbonate) and laxatives (e.g., psyllium [Metamucil]), which the patient takes by mixing with water or other beverages before swallowing;
douche powders (e.g., Massengill powder), dissolved in warm water by the patient for vaginal use;
medicated powders for external application to the skin, usually topical anti-infectives (e.g., bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate) or antifungals (e.g., tolnaftate); and
brewer’s yeast powder containing B-complex vitamins and other nutritional supplements.
b. Divided powders
Divided powders, or chartulae, are single doses of powdered drug mixtures individually enclosed in paper, plastic laminates, or metallic foil wrappers or packets. Chartula, which is abbreviated as chart, is the Latin word for powder paper.
The divided powder is a more accurate dosage form than bulk powder because the patient is not involved in measurement of the dose.
A number of commercially prepared premeasured products are available in folded papers or packets, including headache powders (e.g., BC powders), powdered laxatives (e.g., psyllium mucilloid, cholestyramine resin), and douche powders (e.g., Massengill powder packets).
