Mixing and Granulation - GEA Pharma Systems

• Blending • Drying • Granulating • PelletizingProcessTechnologies•The High Shear Mixer/Granulator is a multi-purpose processor equallysuitable for high speed dispersion of dry powders, aqueous or solventgranulations, effervescent products and melt pelletization.Dry MixingHigh Shear mixing consists of a fast homogeneousblending of active powder and the excipients using ahigh-intensity mixing blade.Special featuresEvaluation of blend homogeneity by NIR-TechnologyWet GranulatingThe high shear granulation process combines theactive powder and the excipients with a bindersolution using a high-speed mixing blade andchopper.Special featuresControl of granulation process via in-line focus beamreflection measurementMelt GranulatingMelt agglomeration is a process by whichagglomeration - or size enlargement by which fineparticles are bound together to agglomerates orgranulates - is obtained through the addition ofeither a molten binder liquid or a solid binder whichmelts during the process. Agglomerates are formedby agitation of the mixture. To obtain a stable, drygranule, a cooling to ambient temperature isnecessary to solidify the binder.Dry BondingWhen low amounts of drugs should be administeredvia inhalation, the accuracy of current devices is notprecise enough. Therefore the small drug particlesare bonded to the course surface of lactose particlesin a dry high shear process. This requires specialtechnology - Aeromatic-Fielder’s expertise in thisprocess provides; special impellers giving enhancedshear forces, loading systems allowing a preciselayering of drug and excipient and often specialcontainment devices such as Buck ® split valves orHicoflex.Effervescent productsOne granulate method using waterA very small amount of water is added to start thepre-effervescent reaction by which some of thecarbon dioxide is released during granulation, but bywhich water is also produced as a reaction product,this then acts as a granulation fluid producing morecarbondioxide and also more water. This avalancheneeds to be stopped at a certain point by starting thedrying process and removing the water. This can bedone using a high shear granulator with subsequentfluid dryer by discharging at the end of thegranulation process the material into a pre-heatedfluid bed dryer.4