Levigation vs. Trituration — What's the Difference?

Levigation is a procedure in which a solid material is ground in the presence of a liquid to achieve a fine particle size. This method is often employed in the pharmaceutical industry, especially when insoluble materials need to be reduced to a smoother consistency. On the other hand, Trituration is a simple grinding or milling procedure where substances are made into fine powder form using a mortar and pestle, typically dry.

The main purpose of Levigation is to separate finer particles from coarser ones by using a suitable liquid medium. This medium can be water or any other solvent that does not react with the substance being levigated. Meanwhile, Trituration emphasizes grinding to enhance the surface area for reactions or to create a homogenous mixture of multiple components.

Levigation is essentially a wet grinding technique. The liquid aids in the grinding process by preventing the particles from reaggregating. In contrast, Trituration is most commonly conducted dry, but sometimes a minimal amount of liquid can be added to assist the grinding.

Levigation can be utilized for both size reduction and purification of a compound if it's mixed with impurities of a larger particle size. Trituration, however, is widely used for homeopathic preparations where substances are ground with lactose to prepare potentized medicines.

Both Levigation and Trituration are critical in the preparation of medications to ensure the desired consistency, purity, and efficacy. They are fundamental techniques in the realm of pharmacy and chemistry, aiding in enhancing the properties of many compounds.