Merck + Co., Inc.

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Priscilla A Robinson

Fernando J Muzzio

Carolyn Wightman

Dean Brone

Kevin Connor

Erinn K Gleason

This invention relates to an end-sampling thief probe and a method of using this probe. The thief probe of the invention is useful in extracting a sample with minimal disturbance and provides an improved method for end-sampling.

End-sampling thief probe

A study was done to compare the performance of a conventional V-blender to a V-blender that incorporates perturbations of the particle flow by rocking the mixing vessel during its normal rotation. Mixing was investigated using glass beads with sizes from 66.mu. to 600.mu. in vessels of approximately one liter volume. Mixture uniformity was assessed qualitatively, using two different methods. One method involved a transparent mixing vessel where it was possible to see particle flow patterns and assess the state of the mixture at its surface during the entire experiment. The second method involved disposable aluminum mixing vessels, where the mixture was solidified by infiltrating the mixture with a binder. By slicing the solidified structure, it was possible to assess the entire state of the mixture including its interior structure after the completion of each experiment. Mixture uniformity was also assessed quantitatively using image analysis of the slices. For both particle sizes, the extent of mixing was greatly enhanced using the rocking V-blender compared to the conventional V-blender.

Dynamically enhanced V-blender

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Dorado, Puerto Rico

Priscilla A Robinson