Mastering lactose flowability with the Revolution Powder Analyzer

New Armor Pharma study!

Armor Pharma has released a groundbreaking study conducted by Marie Charbaut, our Technical Support Manager. It was presented for the first time at the PBP Prague meeting (world meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology), in March 2026. The study, titled “Use of the Revolution Powder Analyzer as a tool to measure the flowability of lactose suitable for direct compression” explores the flow properties of different lactose types by using the Revolution Powder Analyzer.

Poster: Use of the Revolution Powder Analyzer as a Tool Measure the Flowability of Lactose Suitable for direct compression

Materials and Methods

Lactose Types Tested

• Granulated lactose (EXCIPRESS^TM GR150)
• Spray-dried lactose (EXCIPRESS^TM SD2L)
• Sieved lactose (ARMOR PHARMA lactose monohydrate 80M, 100M)
• Milled lactose (ARMOR PHARMA lactose monohydrate 150M, 200M, 350M, 450M)

Method

• An identical volume of powder is placed in a rotating drum
• The rotation causes an avalanche of powder
• Avalanche analysis is performed using an image software

Measurement Parameters

• Break energy (mJ/kg): Energy required to start an avalanche. The lower the break energy, the better the powder flows.
• Surface fractal (calculated by the software): Calculated after each avalanche, this process determines how the powder reorganizes itself. This measurement indicates the surface roughness of the powder bed, ranging from 1 to 11.

Results

• Granulated and spray-dried lactose grades: exhibited a low break energy, indicating good flowability and a surface fractal close to 2, indicating a smooth surface of the powder bed. These ready-to-use lactose are therefore suitable for direct compression.
• Sieved lactose grades: showed a low break energy but a surface fractal between 2 and 5. This lactose, made of coarse particles, has good flowability but limited compaction properties, as such, it is not recommended for direct compression.
• Milled lactose grades: exhibited a higher break energy, which signals poor flowability, along with a surface fractal exceeding 5, indicating a rough powder bed surface. Consequently, milled lactose necessitates further processing, such as granulation or spray drying, before it can be used in direct compression.

Conclusion

The Revolution Powder Analyzer is a valuable tool for selecting the right lactose grades for direct compression, as it provides measurements of the flowability and surface roughness of the powder bed.

This assessment is achieved through:

• Measuring break energy to assess flowability.
• Calculating the surface fractal, which reflects the powder bed’s surface roughness post-avalanche, offering insights into how the powder will fill into the die of the tablet press.

We can conclude that granulated and spray-dried lactose are perfectly suited for direct compression, requiring no further processing. In contrast, milled lactose grades need additional processing to achieve the desired flow properties.

Continue reading here

Source: Amor Pharma, website Mastering lactose flowability with the Revolution Powder Analyzer – Armor Pharma

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