Measuring the size of pores by the segmentation of images from scanning electron microscopy

Segmentation is an image processing method used for partitioning an image into multiple sets of pixels, which are defined as its “super-pixels”. Here, we are proposing a method based on segmentation, for determining the super-pixels corresponding to the pores resulting from freeze-drying of a pharmaceutical solution. The sizes of these pores, evidenced by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), are estimated through the areas of the super-pixels of the segmented image. These sizes can be used to estimate the resistance to mass transfer and hence optimise the cycle of production.