Fluidbed Technology for the coating of powders, pellets and micropellets – an educational booklet

This educational booklet from Glatt gives a great insight on the technologies and processes to coat powders, pellets and micropellets.

Introduction
Fluid bed processes were originally used in chemical process technology. Fluid bed drying saw its first use in the pharmaceutical industry at the end of the 1950s, achieving a higher drying efficiency than the techniques that existed at the time. Many granulation processes were performed by wet granulation in a compulsory mixer, followed by drying in a shelf dryer. However, shelf drying can take up several days depending on the quality of the product.

These lengthy drying times can often be reduced to less than an hour if fluid bed drying is employed. Fluid bed drying is a particularly effective and gentle way to dry, as the entire surface of each individual particle is available for heat and humidity transfer. With the addition of spray nozzles, fluid bed machines quickly developed into fluid bed granulators, in which sprayed liquids lead to the agglomeration of powder particles.

Loose, porous agglomerates are created which are quickly permeated by water. This assists the rapid dissolution of granulates and the tablets made from these granulates. Finally, fluid bed Wurster or „Bottom Spray“ technology allows the highly efficient coating of powders, granulates, pellets and tablets.

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