Compressol™ ProTab – Improving Compression Efficiency and Friability in Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets

FROM CHALLENGE TO TRIUMPH

Effervescent tablets pose unique formulation challenges — balancing tablet strength, dissolution, and appearance while managing large API loads. Traditional insoluble binders like spray-dried mannitol often lead to excessive foaming, residue, and high friability. By switching to Compressol ProTab, SPI Pharma enabled robust effervescent tablet production at low compression force while maintaining comparable hardness and achieving dramatically improved friability. ProTab’s complete water solubility and pleasant taste further enhanced the product’s performance and consumer appeal. The result is a smaller, stronger, more palatable effervescent tablet — demonstrating how Compressol ProTab transforms formulation challenges into triumphs.

THE CHALLENGES

• Formulation Complexity: Effervescent tablets are hard to develop due to their large size and high API load.
• Binder Limitations: Insoluble binders cause turbidity, residue, and foaming in solution.
• Compression Constraints: Needed to achieve low friability and strong tablets at reduced compression force.
• Solubility Requirement: Required a fully watersoluble binder to improve appearance, taste, and manufacturability.

STRATEGIC RESPONSE

• Selected Compressol ProTab to improve tablet strength and reduce compression force.
• Optimized the formulation for better friability and solubility versus spray-dried mannitol.
• Validated performance through comparative testing on hardness, friability, and disintegration.

THE SOLUTION

SPI Pharma utilized Compressol™ ProTab to formulate a robust effervescent tablet capable of achieving comparable hardness at significantly lower compression forces. ProTab’s superior binding performance delivered dramatically improved friability, while its complete water solubility eliminated residue and foaming, resulting in a clear, pleasant-tasting final product that enhanced both manufacturability and consumer appeal.

RESULTS

Using Compressol ProTab, the effervescent tablets achieved similar hardness to traditional spray-dried mannitol formulations at 10 kN lower compression force, while friability was dramatically reduced from 80.5% to 1.3%. The fully soluble ProTab ensured a clear, residue free solution and a pleasant taste, enhancing both product quality and consumer experience. Additionally, the reduced compression force and potential for smaller tablet size offer manufacturing efficiency gains and lower material usage, demonstrating both technical and operational advantages.

See the case study on Compressol™ ProTab – Improving Compression Efficiency and Friability in Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets here

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Source: SPI Pharma, technical brochure Compressol™ ProTab – Improving Compression Efficiency and Friability in Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets

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