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Investigation on Side-Spray Fluidized Bed Granulation with Swirling Airflow

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Abstract

Top-spray fluidized bed granulation with axial fluidization airflow from the bottom of the granulator is well-established in the pharmaceutical industry. The application of swirling airflow for fluidized bed granulation was more recently introduced. This study examined the effects of various process parameters on the granules produced by side-spray fluidized bed with swirling airflow using the central composite and Box–Behnken design of experiment. Influence of the amount of binder solution, spray rate, and distance between spray nozzle and powder bed were initially studied to establish operationally viable values for these parameters. This was followed by an in-depth investigation on the effects of inlet airflow rate, atomizing air pressure and distance between spray nozzle and powder bed on granule properties. It was found that the amount of binder solution had a positive correlation with granule size and percentage of lumps but a negative correlation with size distribution and Hausner ratio of the granules. Binder solution spray rate was also found to affect the granules size. High drug content uniformity was observed in all the batches of granules produced. Both inlet airflow rate and atomizing air pressure were found to correlate negatively with granule size and percentage of lumps but correlate positively with the size distribution of the granule produced. Percentage of fines was found to be significantly affected by inlet airflow rate. Distance between spray nozzle and powder bed generally affected the percentage of lumps.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from GEA-NUS PPRL fund (N-148-000-008-001) and A*STAR SERC grant no. 102 161 0049 (R-148-000-157-305). Wong Poh Mun is a recipient of the National University of Singapore Graduate Research Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEA-NUS Pharmaceutical Processing Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore

    Poh Mun Wong, Lai Wah Chan & Paul Wan Sia Heng

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  1. Poh Mun Wong
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  2. Lai Wah Chan
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  3. Paul Wan Sia Heng
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Correspondence to Paul Wan Sia Heng.

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Wong, P.M., Chan, L.W. & Heng, P.W.S. Investigation on Side-Spray Fluidized Bed Granulation with Swirling Airflow. AAPS PharmSciTech 14, 211–221 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-012-9906-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-012-9906-0

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