Triturate

To triturate means to grind, crush, or pulverize a substance into fine particles, often using a mortar and pestle or other similar tools. This process aims to reduce the particle size, increase surface area, and often improve solubility or release rates, particularly in the context of pharmaceutical preparations, chemical reactions, or food processing. The term implies a thorough and deliberate process designed to achieve a specific fineness. It is a physical process and doesn't involve chemical reactions, with the ultimate goal being to yield a homogenous fine powder.

Triturate meaning with examples

• The pharmacist was instructed to triturate the aspirin tablets with lactose in the mortar and pestle until a fine, uniform powder was created, suitable for creating a new, effective dosage form. This ensured the medicine's components were evenly distributed throughout the mixture, leading to better absorption.
• Before mixing the spices, the chef decided to triturate the whole peppercorns and coriander seeds. He worked them in a dedicated mortar until he got a perfect texture, releasing their aromatic oils and creating a complex flavor profile for the dish.
• The chemist needed to triturate the solid reactant into a smaller grain for the reaction to proceed. The finer particle size increased the contact surface, leading to a faster and more efficient chemical reaction in the solution.
• In the laboratory, scientists carefully triturate the pigment crystals with a binder. The careful grinding and mixing allowed for an evenly dispersed color and the pigments can bind better to the fabric or paper, resulting in a vivid, and long-lasting image.
• The food scientist had to triturate the dried herbs to liberate their essential oils. By reducing the leaves into powder, the extraction process became quicker, and the final product developed a richer flavor profile compared to using the whole plant.