Malvern Mastersizer 2000 Hydro 2000S Particle Size Analyzer

Malvern Mastersizer 2000 with Hydro 2000S Particle Size Analyzer

The Malvern Mastersizer 2000 with the Hydro 2000S wet sample dispersion unit is the industry standard high performance particle sizing device for quick, reproducible analysis of emulsions, suspensions and fine powders. The optical bench is based on the principle of the laser diffraction and the Mie Scattering Theory is used to calculate the particle size distributions in a dynamic range of 0.02 µm to 2000 µm based on the measurement of the angular strength of the scattered light.

The Hydro 2000S module offers a fully automated, low-volume (50 mL to 120 mL) wet sample introduction system. It combines a continuously variable centrifugal pump, an independent overhead stirrer and an inline ultrasonic probe for complete agglomeration destruction and unbiased representative sampling of dense materials. The combination is therefore particularly crucial to accurate material characterization in pharmaceutical, chemical, mineralogical and marine fuel/lubricant testing applications.

Model Details

• Optical Bench Model: Mastersizer 2000 (APA2000)
• Wet Dispersion Unit Model: Hydro 2000S (AWA2001)
• Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): MS2000 / HYDRO-2000S
• Condition Available: Used

Technical Specifications: Malvern Mastersizer 2000

Part Number Cross-References:

• MAL-MS2000-H2000S
• APA-2000-AWA-2001
• MALV-50064-02

Main Features

1. Dual Wavelength Detection System – Utilizes a primary red Helium-Neon (He-Ne: 633 nm) laser core with a secondary solid state blue light source (466 nm) to provide high resolution, sub-micron sensitivity scattering data over 52 discrete detector channels.
2. Intelligent Auto Align: A software-controlled fast optical alignment device that uses a dark-field reticle to automatically rectify any deviations in the path in seconds before recording the background.
3. Integrated Inline Sonication: Includes a 40 kHz ultrasonic probe with continuously changing, software-controlled power straight into the fluid circuit for targeted energy inputs for dispersing agglomerated particles.
4. Automated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Implemented via a SOP Wizard that defines strict specifications for pump/stirrer speeds, sonication periods, clean cycles and measurement parameters to remove operator-to-operator variation.

Terminal Allocations & Rear Panel Layout

Mastersizer 2000 Base Unit Ports

• Power Input: IEC 320-C14 integrated fused socket with mains rocker switch.
• Comms 1 (PC Connection): DB9 female RS232 connector for bidirectional data transmission to the host PC running Mastersizer software v5.60 or equivalent.
• Accessory Port (Auxiliary): Dedicated CAN-bus DB15 socket supplying low-voltage logic controls and communication loops to automated accessory modules.

Hydro 2000S Fluidic & Signal Connections

• Power Input: 100-240 V AC mains input module.
• System Link: Integrated multi-pin umbilical cord transmitting CAN-Bus commands and sensor telemetry directly into the sizer base unit.
• Dispersion Input Port: Quick-connect 6mm OD barbed hose port for automated fill cycles from pressurized external dispersant storage reservoirs.
• Drain & Overflow Ports: Dual dedicated 8mm heavy-wall flexible polyurethane drain line outlets.
• “From Cell” / “To Cell” Fluidic Paths: High-integrity chemical-resistant Viton/PTFE fluidic lines leading out of the centrifugal pump housing into the optical flow cell cassette.

Equipment Compatibility

• Flow Cells: Fully compatible with Malvern Wet Measurement Quartz Flow Cell Cassettes (Part No: ASG2003).
• Alternative Dispersion Units: The Mastersizer 2000 optical bench allows drop-in hot-swapping via automatic software detection for the following modules:
  • Hydro 2000G: Large-volume automated wet dispersion unit (800 mL).
  • Hydro 2000MU: Large-volume manual beaker dispersion unit (200 mL to 1000 mL).
  • Hydro 2000 Micro Precision: Ultra-low volume wet unit (sub-20 mL).
  • Scirocco 2000: Dry powder automated dispersion bench.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical Formulations: Controlling droplet sizing inside therapeutic intravenous emulsions and particle milling geometry for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to stabilize bioavailability curves.
• Chemical Manufacturing: Tracking polymer emulsion growth, raw catalyst particle geometries, and fine surfactant suspension dynamics.
• Mining & Geological Extractions: Fine-tuning slurry grind targets and tracking tailing particle densities to maximize froth flotation extraction yields.

Marine Engineering Insights:

In shipboard laboratories and high-viscosity oil testing facilities, analyzing particle size distribution is a core defensive strategy against catastrophic engine failures. When analyzing heavy fuel oils (HFO), regular standard water dispersants will not work. The sample must be run using a solvent phase matrix such as filtered white spirit or toluene.

Tips:

1. Optical Window Fouling Identification: If your background checks yield anomalous high-energy hits on the lower detector channels (Detectors 1 through 10) during manual initialization, do not attempt to force an auto-alignment routine. This pattern indicates a microscopic film layer or droplet residue baked onto the inner quartz glass face of the flow cell cassette. Eject the cassette, flush with an analytical-grade solvent cleaner, wipe in a single vector path using lint-free optical tissue, and re-seat.
2. Level Sensor Sensitivity Drift: When swapping out fluid phases from water to organic media like propanol-2-ol or white spirit, the internal level sensor thresholds must be updated inside the advanced configuration console. Hydrophobic solvents have low relative permittivity; failure to change the threshold setting from the default 64% water baseline to 35% for white spirit will cause the pump to overfill the tank, leading to active overflow leakage through the rear vents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum and maximum particle sizing envelope of the Mastersizer 2000 with the Hydro 2000S wet dispersion unit?

The optical bench covers an absolute dynamic range of 0.02 µm to 2000 µm using its combined red He-Ne laser and blue solid-state light array. However, when operating under active suspension via the Hydro 2000S wet circulation loop, the pragmatic physical suspension limit is 600 µm. This depends heavily on sample density and fluid velocity settings required to prevent gravity-induced drop-out in the lines.

How do you choose the right background measurement time versus sample measurement time?

Standard operations dictate running a 10-second background capture and a 5-second sample scan. Because laser diffraction measures a time-averaged scattering profile, setting a longer duration for the background helps smooth out signal noise from the dispersant fluid matrix. This provides high-reproducibility reference marks before adding the active sample.

What dispersants are compatible with the Hydro 2000S fluidic path without degrading internal seals?

The Hydro 2000S is engineered with high-grade chemical resistance, utilizing an inert PTFE flow path, quartz viewing windows, and Perfluoroelastomer (Viton/Kalrez) peripheral seals. It is fully compatible with water, alcohols (Ethanol, Isopropanol), white spirits, toluene, hexane, and specialized organic solvents. Always ensure you program the correct software level sensor threshold relative to your solvent matrix.

How does the system handle non-spherical particles like fiber shapes or flakes?

The software converts the 2D light diffraction pattern into an equivalent volume sphere calculation based on the Mie scattering model. For non-spherical particles, you must navigate to the Measurement Options > Material panel and toggle the Particle Shape setting from ‘Spherical’ to ‘Irregular’. This instructs the software to use an updated inversion algorithm that prevents artificial secondary peak artifacts in the final distribution curve.

Can the Mastersizer 2000 handle dry powder samples if the Hydro 2000S is disconnected?

Yes. The Mastersizer 2000 employs an architectural quick-disconnect lock system. You can pull the wet cell cassette out of the optical alignment bench and insert a dry powder feeder module like the Scirocco 2000. The instrument immediately recognizes the new module via the CAN-Bus link and dynamically updates the control software panels without requiring a hard system reboot.