Reflectance Measurement Technique Research Articles

Cationic tall oil lignin-starch copolymer as a flocculant for clay suspensions

In this study, a novel cationic tall oil lignin (TOL)-starch copolymer was successfully prepared by the polymerization reaction of TOL, starch and a cationic monomer of (3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (APTAC) through the free radical chain extension. 1H NMR and 1H–1H COSY studies demonstrated that the TOL and starch were covalently linked by the APTAC to produce the cationic copolymers. The copolymerization reaction reduced the phenolic content of TOL, yielding an increment in the solubility, molecular weight (Mw), and charge density of the cationic copolymer. Moreover, the thermochemical analysis indicated that the obtained copolymer, CR5-pH11, with the largest Mw possessed the highest glass transition temperature (Tg) of 184 °C due to the insertion of a long APTAC chain and the presence of starch and TOL. Owing to its highest charge density (3.6 meq/g) and largest Mw (56,100 kg/mol), CR5-pH11 exhibited the most efficient flocculation behavior in the kaolin suspension under altered agitation and gravitational forces as confirmed by focused beam reflectance measurement and sedimentation techniques. This study provided a new strategy to developing sustainable cationic lignin-starch flocculant for clay suspension systems.

The Wrinkles Characterization in GFRP Composites by Infrared Active Thermography.

An experimental study has been carried out to assess the effectiveness of infrared thermography in wrinkle detection in composite GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) structures by infrared active thermography. Wrinkles in composite GFRP plates with different weave patterns (twill and satin) have been manufactured with the use of the vacuum bagging method. The different localization of defects in laminates has been taken into account. Transmission and reflection measurement techniques of active thermography have been verified and compared. The section of a turbine blade with a vertical axis of rotation containing post-manufacturing wrinkles has been prepared to verify active thermography measurement techniques in the real structure. In the turbine blade section, the influence of a gelcoat surface on the effectiveness of thermography damage detection has also been taken into account. Straightforward thermal parameters applied in structural health monitoring systems allow an effective damage detection method to be built. The transmission IRT setup allows not only for damage detection and localization in composite structures but also for accurate damage identification. The reflection IRT setup is convenient for damage detection systems coupled with nondestructive testing software. In considered cases, the type of fabric weave has negligible influence on the quality of damage detection results.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Chitosan and Tea Tree Oil on Plain and Satin Weave Cotton Fabrics.

The paper aimed at enhancing the antimicrobial activity of chitosan by using tea tree essential oil with the purpose of durably finishing cotton fabrics for use in a hospital environment. The influence of crosslinkers and catalysts on the possibility of obtaining stable bonds using hydrothermal in situ synthesis between cellulosic material and chitosan with and without tea tree essential oil was investigated in detail. The morphology of the sample surface before and after the treatment and textile care cycle was investigated using a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and indicated the presence of chitosan and a thin film on all treated samples, which showed durability of the treatment. The FTIR spectra obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) using attenuated total reflection measurement technique (ATR) analysis, showed that all the samples tested recorded physicochemical changes in the structure. The analysis of the samples on the goniometer proved the hydrophilicity of the materials, with a film forming on the surface of the treated samples, which is extremely beneficial given the end use of dressing samples to promote wound healing. The presence of a significant amount of bound chitosan with tea tree oil was confirmed by measuring the mass per unit area of the samples after the treatment and textile care cycles. The results of antimicrobial efficacy show that the materials treated with chitosan were resistant to bacteria and fungi in most cases, but only the samples treated in Bath I showed a zone of inhibition against the fungus Candida albicans, indicating the positive effect of tea tree essential oil.

Flocculation of quartz by a dual polymer system containing tannic acid and poly(ethylene oxide): Effect of polymer chemistry and hydrodynamic conditions

The flocculation behaviors of quartz using a dual polymer system containing tannic acid (TAN) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were investigated in this study, with dynamic floc size monitoring by the in-situ focused beam reflectance measurement technique. Variables of concern and their influence on the flocculation process were investigated from both physicochemical and hydrodynamic aspects, including solution pH, TAN/PEO ratio, and shear intensity. Floc structure was characterized using confocal scanning microscopy in suspension as well as freeze-drying-SEM imaging method. It was found that prior addition of TAN significantly increased the flocculation efficiency of quartz by PEO at neutral and alkaline pH, but not in acidic solutions despite that PEO induced the largest floc size at pH 3.1 when used alone. An optimal TAN/PEO ratio of 2 was observed for the best flocculation of quartz under the experimental conditions. Additionally, tannic acid could increase the strength of flocs formed by PEO, and the shear resistance of the flocs increased with increasing TAN/PEO ratio. The dual polymer system also contributed to the re-flocculation of quartz under cycled shear conditions, a phenomenon that was not observed when PEO was used alone. Zeta potential and adsorption density measurements confirmed that the pathway of the dual polymer flocculation was via the initial formation of TAN-PEO associative complexes in solution and then bridging of quartz by the associative complexes. The TAN-PEO associative complexes showed different structures and configurations at different pH, in line with a change in hydrogen bonding, which in turn affected floc structures and properties under turbulent conditions. This study helps to understand the improved flocculation, shear resistance and re-flocculation of fine particles induced by dual polymer system.

The effect of preparation time and aeration rate on the properties of bulk micro-nanobubble water using hydrodynamic cavitation

Fundamental research on bulk micro-nanobubbles (BMNBs) has grown rapidly due to the demand for their industrial applications and potential role in interfacial sciences. This work focuses on examining properties of such bubbles, including the number, concentration, zeta potential, and surface tension in water. For this purpose, BMNBs were generated by the hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) mechanism. Distilled water and air in the experiments were the liquid and gas phases, respectively. The characterization of bulk microbubbles (BMBs) and bulk nanobubbles (BNBs) were performed through focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) techniques, respectively. Zeta potential and surface tension of aqueous solutions were measured at different time and aeration rates. The results showed that aeration rate and preparation time had an important role in the properties of BNBs (concentration, bubble size, and surface charge) and BMBs (number, and bubble size). The instability of BMBs led to the rapid changes in the dissolved oxygen (DO) content in the water. The number of BMBs decreased when preparation time and aeration rate increased, but their size remained constant. By enhancing the preparation time and aeration rate, the concentration of BNBs improved first and then reduced. Additionally, the surface tension of an aqueous solution containing BNBs was significantly lower than that of pure water.

Flocculation of Clay-Based Tailings: Differences of Kaolin and Sodium Montmorillonite in Salt Medium.

Complex gangues and low-quality waters are a concern for the mining industries, particularly in water shortage areas, where the closure of hydric circuits and reduction in water use are essential to maintain the economic and environmental sustainability of mineral processing. This study analyzes the phenomena involved in the water recovery stage, such as sedimentation of clay-based tailings flocculated with anionic polyelectrolyte in industrial water and seawater. Flocculation–sedimentation batch tests were performed to ascertain the aggregate size distribution, the hindered settling rate, and the structure of flocs expressed through their fractal dimension and density. The aggregates’ properties were characterized by the Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) and Particle Vision Microscope (PVM) techniques. The impact of the type of water depends on the type of clay that constitutes the suspension. For quartz/kaolin, the highest performance was obtained in industrial water, with bigger aggregates and faster settling rates. However, the tailings composed of quartz/Na-montmorillonite reversed this trend. The type of water impacted the efficiency of primary-particle aggregation. The trials in industrial water generated a portion of non-flocculated particles, which was observed through a bimodal distribution in the unweighted chord-length distribution. This behavior was not observed in seawater, where a perceptible fraction of non-flocculated particles was not found. The additional cationic bonds that offer seawater favor finer primary-particle agglomeration for all tailings types.

An experimental study of calcium carbonate precipitation with hydrate inhibitor in MEG recovery unit

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) is a thermodynamic inhibitor of gas hydrate formation used in the oil industry. Regeneration of MEG for reinjection in wells is necessary to minimize operating costs due to the large amounts of this additive employed. However, this scenario favors the precipitation of inorganic salts from the produced water, mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This work is devoted to evaluating the CaCO3 precipitation in water + MEG mixtures (0–50 vol.% MEG) at different concentrations of reacting salts (0.01–0.1 mol L−1) and temperatures (25–60 °C). The focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique was used for inline monitoring of chord length and CaCO3 particles distribution in the suspension for 60 min. Optical microscopy was used to understand the particle precipitation phenomena. FBRM results show that the size distribution and the number of CaCO3 particles in the aqueous solution vary with time, temperature, reacting salts, and MEG concentrations. The higher the salt concentration, the larger both the size and number of precipitated chords. Temperature expressively affects salt precipitation. For a given concentration of MEG, the enhancement in temperature favors the increase in the amount and size of chords. Specifically, for 10% v/v of MEG solutions, the particle size increases from 8.0 ± 0.5 μm (at 25 °C) to 20.4 ± 2.1 μm (at 60 °C). Additionally, at 30% v/v of MEG in the solution, the particle size increases from 5.4 ± 0.4 μm (at 25 °C) to 15.5 ± 0.2 μm (at 60 °C). These outcomes are related to the reduction in CaCO3 solubility and the improvement in MEG viscosity with temperature. Optical microscopy measurements corroborate the FBRM data, thus demonstrating the influence of the parameters MEG concentration, ionic concentration, and temperature have on the number and size of precipitated carbonate crystals.

Impact of hydrodynamic conditions on the structure of clay-based tailings aggregates flocculated in freshwater and seawater

• Flocculation of clay-based tailing in industrial water and seawater was compared. • A number of the particles does not flocculate unless the shear rate increases. • The use of seawater led to a reduction in the size of aggregates. • The fractal dimension of aggregates decreases with increasing mixing intensity. The impact of shear rate on the structural properties of aggregates obtained during the flocculation of clay-based tailings with an anionic polyacrylamide was analyzed. The effects generated in industrial water (IW) and seawater (SW) were compared. Flocculation-sedimentation batch tests were performed to know aggregate size distribution, hindered settling rate, and internal structure of flocs expressed through their fractal dimension. The aggregate properties were characterized by the Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) and Particle Vision Microscope (PVM) techniques. The aggregate size distribution showed a bimodal behavior, where a portion of the particles does not flocculate properly unless the shear rate increases during flocculation. On the other hand, the size and quantity of coarse aggregates strongly depend on the mixing intensity. The use of seawater led to a reduction in the size of aggregates. It is suggested that this is a result of polymer coiling, which leads to a decreased ability to form polymeric bridges and thus less particle capture. The fractal dimension of aggregates shows that while the shear rate increases, the aggregates are less compact, with structures possibly more open and further away from a solid spherical body. The greatest reduction occurred in industrial water, related to the larger size of the structures in a low salinity environment.

Evaluation of reflectance measurement techniques for artificially soiled solar reflectors: Experimental campaign and model assessment

The soiling of heliostats is a highly detrimental process that affects the energy conversion efficiency of solar tower power plants as soiled heliostats suffer significant drops of reflectance. Tools that allow reliable soiling measurements and predictions are needed to accurately assess the induced power losses and to develop strategies that mitigate the related detrimental effects. The results of an experimental campaign conducted at the Fraunhofer ISE laboratories are presented and discussed in this paper. Four different techniques were used to measure the reflectance of artificially soiled mirrors: (i) measurements obtained with a portable specular reflectometer 15R-RGB (D&S), (ii) spectral analysis of the outcomes of a spectrophotometer, (iii) post-processing analysis of the measurements obtained with the device VLABS (very low angular beam spread), and (iv) microscope-captured image processing. A detailed comparison between the measurements obtained with each device is performed to evaluate the agreement among them and the motivations of slightly different trends in the results. Finally, the outcomes of the analyses are proved to give further strength to the validation of a previously developed solar reflectors soiling model.

Thermal stability of interfacial mixed layers in c-Ni/a-Zr multilayer during annealing: Structural and magnetic properties

Annealing of crystalline multilayers composed of two miscible elements usually causes interfacial mixing of the constituent atoms, possibly leading to the formation of binary alloys at the interfaces. Magnetron sputtered c-Ni/a-Zr multilayers deposited at room temperature were vacuum annealed isochronally at 200 °C and 400 °C to observe thermal stability of the interfaces constituting the crystalline/amorphous multilayers. Control over the interfacial behaviour can aid the formation of materials with novel properties. The resultant changes in structural and magnetic properties of the multilayers were investigated in detail through X-ray Reflectivity, Polarized Neutron Reflectivity, SIMS and SQUID-based magnetization measurement techniques. The compositional variations in the amorphous mixed layers formed at the Ni-on-Zr and Zr-on-Ni interfaces due to atomic transport, were carefully observed as a function of annealing. Interface widths proceeded to increase with annealing at the expense of the Ni and Zr layers. The Ni-on-Zr interface was seen to be unstable at both temperatures; but the overall response of the interfaces to atomic diffusion was more pronounced when the multilayers were annealed at 400 °C. Under conditions of supersaturation of atoms within restricted spaces of the interfacial layers and the limited availability of components within the multilayer, unexpected demixing effects were observed at both the interfaces. A large increase in magnetic moment obtained after annealing at 400 °C, was attributed to the high densification of the Ni layers as well as to the incorporation of Ni crystallites into the Zr-on-Ni interface layers.

Use of Multi-Anionic Sodium Tripolyphosphate to Enhance Dispersion of Concentrated Kaolin Slurries in Seawater

This research aims to analyze the impact of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as a rheological modifier of concentrated kaolin slurries in seawater at pH 8, which is characteristic of copper sulfide processing operations. The dispersion phenomenon was analyzed through chord length measurements using the focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique, complementing size distributions in unweighted and square-weighted modes. The reduction of the rheological properties was significant, decreasing from 231 Pa in a reagent-free environment to 80 Pa after the application of STPP. A frequency sweep in a linear viscoelastic regime indicated that by applying a characteristic dosage of 0.53 kg/t of STPP, the pulp before yielding increases its phase angle, which increases its liquid-like character. Measurements of the chord length verified the dispersion of particles, which showed an apparent increase in the proportion of fine particles and a reduction of the coarser aggregates when STPP was applied. Measurements of the zeta potential suggested that the high anionic charge of the reagent (pentavalent) increases the electrostatic repulsions between particles, overcoming the effect of cations in seawater. The results are relevant for the mining industry, especially when the deposits have high contents of complex gangues, such as clays, that increase the rheological properties. This increases the energy costs and water consumption needed for pumping the tailings from thickeners to the tailing storages facilities. The strategies that allow for the improvement of the fluidity and deformation of the tailings generate slack in order to maximize water recovery in the thickening stages.

A Nondestructive Testing Method for the Determination of the Complex Refractive Index Using Ultra Wideband Radar in Industrial Applications.

An ultra-wide band radar reflection measurement technique for industrial applications is introduced. A new method for determining the complex refractive index (or equivalently the relative permittivity) of objects with planar interfaces is presented. The object thickness can also be obtained experimentally. The method is a combination of time and frequency domain techniques. The objects can be finite in size and at a finite distance. The limits in size and distance for the method to be valid are experimentally investigated. The method is relatively insensitive to hardware impairments such as frequency dependence of antennas and analog front end. The method is designed for industrial in-line measurements on objects on conveyor belts. Results are presented for solid wood and wood chips; the complex refractive index is determined in the frequency range 0.5 to 2.0 GHz for the moisture content of 3.6–10% for solid wood and 30–50% for wood chips. Polarimetric measurements are used; wood and wood chips are anisotropic.

Lithium carbonate precipitation by homogeneous and heterogeneous reactive crystallization

Lithium carbonate precipitation from a Li2SO4 solution in a stirred crystallizer in semi-batch processes was investigated and compared using a heterogeneous CO2 reaction and homogeneous Na2CO3 reaction. Nucleation and crystal growth were successfully monitored by an inline Particle Track based on the focused beam reflectance measurement technique. The results obtained indicate that the particle size decreased with an increase in mixing speed for both precipitation processes. However, the CO2 feed rate in the heterogeneous reaction and the pumping rate of Na2CO3 in the homogeneous reaction did not have a significant impact on the particle size distribution. Temperature and the final pH play critical roles in precipitation when using CO2 as a reactant. High alkaline conditions are needed to induce heterogeneous precipitation. The lithium recovery with homogeneous precipitation was higher than with heterogeneous precipitation, probably due to the gas-liquid mass transfer phenomena of absorption influencing carbon dioxide conversion to carbonate ions in heterogeneous precipitation. Agglomerates of leaf-shaped primary crystals were mainly obtained.

Effect of Pre-Shear on Agglomeration and Rheological Parameters of Cement Paste.

Cementitious pastes are multiphase suspensions that are rheologically characterized by viscosity and yield stress. They tend to flocculate during rest due to attractive interparticle forces, and desagglomerate when shear is induced. The shear history, e.g., mixing energy and time, determines the apparent state of flocculation and accordingly the particle size distribution of the cement in the suspension, which itself affects suspension’s plastic viscosity and yield stress. Thus, it is crucial to understand the effect of the mixing procedure of cementitious suspensions before starting rheological measurements. However, the measurement of the in-situ particle agglomeration status is difficult, due to rapidly changing particle network structuration. The focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique offers an opportunity for the in-situ investigation of the chord length distribution. This enables to detect the state of flocculation of the particles during shear. Cementitious pastes differing in their solid fraction and superplasticizer content were analyzed after various pre-shear histories, i.e., mixing times. Yield stress and viscosity were measured in a parallel-plate-rheometer and related to in-situ measurements of the chord length distribution with the FBRM-probe to characterize the agglomeration status. With increasing mixing time agglomerates were increasingly broken up in dependence of pre-shear: After 300 s of pre-shear the agglomerate sizes decreased by 10 µm to 15 µm compared to a 30 s pre-shear. At the same time dynamic yield stress and viscosity decreased up to 30% until a state of equilibrium was almost reached. The investigations show a correlation between mean chord length and the corresponding rheological parameters affected by the duration of pre-shear.

Reducing the Magnesium Content from Seawater to Improve Tailing Flocculation: Description by Population Balance Models

Experimental assays and mathematical models, through population balance models (PBM), were used to characterize the particle aggregation of mining tailings flocculated in seawater. Three systems were considered for preparation of the slurries: i) Seawater at natural pH (pH 7.4), ii) seawater at pH 11, and iii) treated seawater at pH 11. The treated seawater had a reduced magnesium content in order to avoid the formation of solid complexes, which damage the concentration operations. For this, the pH of seawater was raised with lime before being used in the process—generating solid precipitates of magnesium that were removed by vacuum filtration. The mean size of the aggregates were represented by the mean chord length obtained with the Focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique, and their descriptions, obtained by the PBM, showed an aggregation and a breakage kernel had evolved. The fractal dimension and permeability were included in the model in order to improve the representation of the irregular structure of the aggregates. Then, five parameters were optimized: Three for the aggregation kernel and two for the breakage kernel. The results show that raising the pH from 8 to 11 was severely detrimental to the flocculation performance. Nevertheless, for pH 11, the aggregates slightly exceeded 100 µm, causing undesirable behaviour during the thickening operations. Interestingly, magnesium removal provided a suitable environment to perform the tailings flocculation at alkaline pH, making aggregates with sizes that exceeded 300 µm. Only the fractal dimension changed between pH 8 and treated seawater at pH 11—as reflected in the permeability outcomes. The PBM fitted well with the experimental data, and the parameters showed that the aggregation kernel was dominant at all-polymer dosages. The descriptive capacity of the model might have been utilized as a support in practical decisions regarding the best-operating requirements in the flocculation of copper tailings and water clarification.

Enhancing the sedimentation of clay-based tailings in seawater by magnesium removal treatment

The pH of the seawater was raised with lime before it was used into the process, generating solid precipitates of magnesium that were removed by vacuum filtration. Then this treated seawater was applied to improve the flocculation of clay-based tailings in a highly alkaline environment (pH 11).Tailings settling assays were conducted by using a PTFE 30 mm turbine type stirrer with an in-situ floc size characterisation utilising the Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) and Particle Vision Measurement (PVM) techniques. After mixing the pulp with the flocculant, the sample was settled, registering the evolution of the mudline and turbidity of the supernatant liquid. When operating with direct seawater at pH 11, magnesium complexes arise that impairs the flocculant performance. The polymer loses selectivity for the particles, causing weak aggregation and low settling rates. However, by diminishing the magnesium content before the seawater is incorporated into the process, the flocculant was able to bridge the particles and achieve a promising flocculation response. Microscopic characterisation of aggregates showed that these were larger and denser, improving the sedimentation rates considerably. The proposed research provides a new strategy to advance in tailings management issues for the mining industry, focusing on plants that use seawater in their operations.

Describing Mining Tailing Flocculation in Seawater by Population Balance Models: Effect of Mixing Intensity

A population balance model (PBM) is used to describe flocculation of particle tailings in seawater at pH 8 for a range of mixing intensities. The size of the aggregates is represented by the mean chord length, determined by the focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique. The PBM follows the dynamics of aggregation and breakage processes underlying flocculation and provides a good approximation to the temporal evolution of aggregate size. The structure of the aggregates during flocculation is described by a constant or time-dependent fractal dimension. The results revealed that the compensations between the aggregation and breakage rates lead to a correct representation of the flocculation kinetics of the tailings of particles in seawater and, in addition, that the representation of the flocculation kinetics in optimal conditions is equally good with a constant or variable fractal dimension. The aggregation and breakage functions and their corresponding parameters are sensitive to the choice of the fractal dimension of the aggregates, whether constant or time dependent, however, under optimal conditions, a constant fractal dimension is sufficient. The model is robust and predictive with a few parameters and can be used to find the optimal flocculation conditions at different mixing intensities, and the optimal flocculation time can be used for a cost-effective evaluation of the quality of the flocculant used.

In-line microwave reflection measurement technique for determining moisture content of biomass material

An in-line microwave reflection measurement technique for determining moisture content of biomass material (sawdust) moving past the sensor on a conveyer is presented. The proposed system consists of four open-ended rectangular substrate-integrated waveguide (ORSIW) sensors mounted on the conveyor walls, three RF-switches and a 3.0 GHz six-port reflectometer for the reflection measurement from the sensors. The dielectric permittivity of the biomass as a function of moisture content and bulk density can be extracted by using the six-port measurement technique. The density-independent algorithm for moisture content determination was developed based on the power readings from the six-port circuit at conveyor speeds of 0.15, 0.23 and 0.35 m s−1. Finally, the predicted moisture contents were compared with those determined by the standard oven-drying method with standard errors of calibration (SEC) of 1.75%, 1.70% and 1.28% for conveyor speeds of 0.15, 0.23 and 0.35 m s−1, respectively.

A Comprehensive Methodology to Evaluate Losses and Process Variations in Silicon Solar Cell Manufacturing

Novel, high-throughput metrology methods are used in this paper for detailed performance loss analysis of approximately 400 industrial crystalline silicon solar cells, all coming from the same production line. The characterization sequence combines traditional global cell measurements (e.g., current–voltage, Suns- ${V}_{\text{OC}}$ ) with camera-based cell imaging of voltage distribution and power dissipation from photoluminescence and lock-in thermography, respectively. Spatial variations in current collection are visualized using a high-speed external quantum efficiency and reflectance measurement technique. A nondestructive transfer length method (TLM) measurement technique is also implemented, featuring circular TLM structures hidden within the busbars of the cells. The variance of individual loss parameters and their impact on cell performance are quantified for this large group of cells. Based on correlations performed across parameters, recombination losses in the bulk and rear surface of the cell are shown to be the primary limiting factor for the cell efficiency. The nature of these distributions and correlations provide important insights about loss mechanisms in industrial solar cells, helping to prioritize efforts for optimizing the performance of the production line. Additionally, many of the parameters extracted from these techniques can be tied back to incoming material quality issues (e.g., poor bulk carrier lifetime, nonuniform wafer doping) and to individual unit processes (e.g., texturing, phosphorus diffusion, silicon nitride deposition, metallization), allowing the data to be used directly for process control in manufacturing. All of the datasets are made available for download.

Insights on role of polymers in precipitation of celecoxib from supersaturated solutions as assessed by focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM)

Supersaturating drug delivery systems (SDDS) have dominated the commercial and academic spheres owing to their potential in overcoming the solubility issue of poorly soluble drugs. Precipitation inhibitors are used as excipients in such formulations which has necessitated the development of supersaturation assays that evaluate their precipitation-inhibition efficacy. Such assays are able to give relative estimates of polymer efficacy ceteris paribus within a given set-up. However, the estimates of different laboratories cannot be compared with each other owing to high variability in procedure. Microarray plate method allows comprehensive replicates and decent statistics that make the method an edge over the other exploratory assays. In the current study, the precipitation-inhibition performance of three polymers on the precipitation of a model BCS class II drug was evaluated using the microarray plate method. Quantitative estimations were made through application of Poisson equation for nucleation rates and area under curve. Insights of the precipitation process at particle level were obtained through focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) technique coupled with end-process PVM imaging. Through real-time particle size analysis, FBRM technique demonstrated the potential for discerning the role of polymer as nucleation-inhibitor or crystal growth inhibitor. The events observed in the scaled-up FBRM analysis could be correlated with the events observed visually and spectrophotometrically. Powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were performed to capture the influence of polymers on the precipitates formed. This study was able to demonstrate the applicability of microarray plate method for quantitative estimations of precipitation kinetics that can be utilized for excipient screening for poorly soluble drugs having intra-luminal precipitation as a problem. FBRM analysis is highly valuable to gain mechanistic insights and put to rest the prevalent conjecture-based role attribution for polymers.