Application Notes

Processing polymers into fine particles is critical for consistent performance in research, manufacturing, and recycling. However, traditional grinding methods at room temperature generate heat, leading to material degradation, inconsistent particle sizes, and potential contamination issues. This application note outlines the practical considerations involved in cryogenic grinding polymers, emphasizing common challenges, grinder selection, and process optimization.

Application: Sample Preparation Introduction The following procedures are provided as a basic guideline for cannabis and hemp sample preparation and are in no way required or absolute validated methodologies. Spex makes no claims in regard to instrument parameters and environmental conditions related to the specific physical and chemical properties of individual samples. Spex SamplePrep does not perform analytical testing and results are based on customer research publications or limited in-house studies.

Application: Cryogenic Grinding of Crab Legs to Enhance Soil Fertility and Encourage Plant Growth Introduction Cryogenic grinding, also know as cryomilling, utilizes liquid nitrogen or other cryogens to cool materials to extremely low temperatures. This process induces brittleness in the materials, thereby enhancing grinding efficiency and minimizing thermal degradation and contamination. By exploiting the unique physical properties of materials at cryogenic temperatures, this technique finds applications across scientific research, industrial processes, and medical advancements.

Application: Cryogenic Grinding of Deer Antler for DNA Analysis Introduction Deer horn poaching, also known as deer antler poaching, refers to the illegal hunting and harvesting of deer antlers for various purposes, which includes extraction for traditional medicine, aphrodisiac beliefs, trophy hunting, etc. Wildlife forensics is recognized as a key enforcement tool to combat this trade. Our Freezer/Mill, model CG-400, aids the process.

Application: Cryogenic Grinding of Elephant Tusk for DNA Analysis Introduction The illegal ivory trade continues to drive elephant poaching. Large ivory seizures in Africa and Asia are still commonplace. Wildlife forensics is recognized as a key enforcement tool to combat this trade.

Application: Cryogenic Grinding of Groundnut to Create Fertilizer Introduction Cryogenic grinding, or cryomilling, employs liquid nitrogen or other cryogens to cool materials to very low temperatures making them brittle. This enhances grinding efficiency and reduces thermal degradation and contamination. By taking advantage of these unique low-temperature properties, cryogenic grinding benefits scientific research, industrial processes, and medical applications, and is particularly effective in producing high-quality organic fertilizers in agriculture.