The new flowability tester BEP2 from UK-based Copley Scientific in Nottingham provides a range of options for testing pharmaceutical powders.
The system uses the methods described in the US and European Pharmacopoeias (USP Chapter <1174> and Ph.Eur. Chapter 2.9.36). Powder flow testing is an important issue in the industry as many materials are handled in powder form.
"Now that the USP and Ph.Eur chapters on powder flow are harmonised, the industry has four well-defined methods for powder testing," said Mark Copley, sales manager for Copley Scientific. "The BEP2 offers three of these four methods - flow through an orifice, angle of repose and shear cell - in a single, cost effective unit."
The BEP2 is a small footprint instrument with interchangeable cylinder, funnel, angle-of-repose and shear cell attachments. An optional balance/timer simplifies time vs mass testing.
For compressibility index and Hausner ratio testing, the fourth specified methodology, Copley Scientific offers a series of tapped density testers and the bulk density tester (Scott Volumeter), detailed monographs for which feature in USP Chapter <616> and Ph.Eur. Chapter 2.9.15.