What is the Difference Between Levigation and Trituration?

05/15/2025 • Maryella Faratro

The main difference between levigation and trituration lies in their purposes and the conditions under which they are performed. Here are the key differences:

  • Levigation:
  1. Involves decreasing the particle size of powders by triturating them with a mortar and pestle in the presence of a liquid.
  2. The liquid used for levigation is called a "levigating agent" or "wetting agent".
  3. Levigation is a wet grinding process.
  • Trituration:
  1. Involves purifying crude chemical compounds consisting of soluble substances.
  2. Trituration is a dry grinding process, involving the continuous rubbing or grinding of substances.

In summary, levigation is a wet grinding process used to reduce the particle size of powders, while trituration is a dry grinding process used for purifying crude chemical compounds.

Comparative Table: Levigation vs Trituration

The main difference between levigation and trituration lies in the grinding process and the use of a liquid medium. Here is a table comparing the two methods:

Feature Levigation Trituration
Grinding Process Wet grinding Dry grinding
Liquid Medium Uses a liquid medium (levigating agent) No liquid medium
Purpose Reducing particle size and separating finer particles from coarser ones Reducing particle size to enhance surface area for reactions or create a homogeneous mixture
Technique Mixing or triturating a powder with a liquid to displace the film of air on the surface of dry powders Grinding substances into fine particles using a mortar and pestle
Applications Used in pharmacy and pottery to reduce substances to a fine powder Important in homeopathy for preparing potentized medicines and ensuring drugs are easily soluble
Alternative Name Wet Grinding Dry Grinding

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