A “systematic literature review” for the morphological characterization of aggregates and agglomerates

As part of his PhD, Léo Théodon conducted a “systematic literature review” (Systematic Literature Review, SLR) on the “morphological characterization of aggregates and agglomerates through image analysis”.

An SLR is a rigorous methodology that aims to collect, assess, and synthesize—both qualitatively and quantitatively—all relevant studies on a specific research question. This approach stands out for its exhaustive and structured nature, ensuring the reliability and validity of the results. The advantages of an SLR lie in its ability to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of a research field, while also highlighting existing gaps. It provides not only a clear picture of current knowledge, but also directions for future research.

In this case, the use of this methodology made it possible to map the most relevant techniques, devices, and approaches for the morphological characterization of aggregates and agglomerates through image analysis, with the aim of better understanding their impact across various sectors, from chemistry to medicine. At the heart of this topic is the relationship between the size and shape of agglomerates and their effectiveness, whether at the industrial or environmental level.

The SLR led to the selection and analysis of 145 articles, revealing more than 45 distinct morphological characteristics, 110 different definitions, and 20 image-capture devices. This effort resulted in an article recently published in Powder Technology (also available on HAL), which may serve as a reference for the community in the field.