Wet Mass Granulation Case Study

A preliminary multiple addition test was run using the MTR. This was to determine the optimum amount of liquid binder for the formulation. A figure of about 0.25 ml/g of the binder was suggested by the results obtained from the MTR. However, at this figure the consistency (or cohesiveness) of the formulation as measured by the MTR was very low (about 0.15 Nm – this is low compared to many formulations that can easily, and do regularly, go as high as 2 to 4 Nm). However, this figure was accepted for the trials as it was in close agreement to the figures generated by the manufacturer during their own trials. The data from trial 1 is shown as an appendix on page 12. The graph shows that the optimum binder ratio is likely to be between 0.23 to 0.3 ml/g.

A second trial was run using the Caleva Mixer Torque Rheometer to examine the proposition that additional granulation might improve the consistency of the product, as on occasion this has found to be the case in previous experiments with different products.

 

A sample of 20 g of premix was added to the MTR bowl with 5ml of binder.  The MTR granulator was run at 50 rpm and the consistency measured periodically.

Results

Figure 1 clearly shows that with continuing granulation, the consistency of the formulation continued to increase throughout the whole granulation period (about 25 minutes). There was no indication that the maximum level had been reached. This achieved a higher figure than the one reported during the Multiple Addition test (0.215 Nm compared to 0.15 Nm) and presumably (although no measurements have been made) with the standard formulation developments that we have been testing. The higher level of consistency obtained suggested that there would be a good chance that the resultant material would be more suitable for extrusion and spheronization and make it easier to handle and remove some of the stickiness problem that had been troublesome.

 

As there was no clear limit on the consistency level reached, a subsequent trial was planned to look at the effect of additional granulation on the consistency of the formulation.

An increase in the 25-minute granulation time would not be ideal.

Trial 1 above was repeated, but with a mixing speed of 150 rpm (compared to 50 rpm in the first trial). A 25 minute granulation time was also used to see if a limit could be reached with an increased blade revolution speed. The results are shown in Figure 2 below.

 

 

Results

On the graphs the results look similar but the difference in scales should be noted.
Once again, with the more aggressive granulation no peak was reached. The increase appeared to be linear to a maximum of about 0.6 Nm.

Again, significantly higher than the consistency generally used in the formulation process.

A subjective and qualitative assessment of the resultant granulation showed that the material extruded more easily, felt drier and was less sticky during spheronization than the ones experienced in the large-scale trials, despite having the same amount of binder liquid.

 

Figure 3 shows the data on the same graph, for ease of comparison, of consistency related to the number of revolutions (not time) at different blade rotation speed.

 

• At both speeds there is a clear linear relationship between the number of revolutions and the product consistency measured and this reaches levels that are unlikely in the granulation techniques being used in the current trials at the customer site
• There is an indication (but no clear proof) that the speed of the blade will generate a higher consistency level in the formulation but it is highly likely that both speeds generate a consistency that is above what is being used in the current manufacturing process.
• The rate of increase is the same for both blade speeds but the faster blade seems to reach a higher initial level with fewer revolutions. This is not explained but could be due to a more aggressive premixing of the product before the binder liquid is added but this would require additional experimental work.
• There is a suggestion that at about 3,000 revolutions of the primary blade the rate of increase in consistency is beginning to slow but additional trials would be necessary to confirm this.  It is not clear from this single trial.
• Despite the comment above there is no clear evidence in any of the results that any the maximum consistency has been reached. However, for our purpose it was assumed that the increase obtained was enough to move to extrusion and spheronization trials with this granulation parameter.

In addition to the above it was quite evident from a qualitative (and subjective) physical examination of the formulation after the significantly more aggressive granulation the material was easier to work with and had lost the “wet and sticky” feeling that we had seen in the larger scale samples.

As the results showed that a more aggressive granulation led to a higher level of consistency and increasing the plasticity of the formulation, this suggests that the extrusion and spheronization process would benefit from this, making the product easier to manage.

 

A set of two trials were completed using the Caleva Caleva Multi Lab to investigate the effect of a significantly more aggressive granulation on the extrusion and spheronization of the formulation. These are shown below as trials 4 and 5

Trials were completed using the Caleva Multi Lab

Materials
20 grams of the premix provided by the manufacturer

5.0 ml mix of water and prepared binder containing 0.0268 g of PG (0.134% in the formulation)

The binder solution was at 90 to 95 deg C when added by a syringe.

Granulation
The granulator was run at 150 rpm for 25 minutes
(Number of revolutions =~ 3750)
The mixing bowls and blades were soaked in boiling water and dried before use so that they were quite warm during the granulation. Temperature measurements were not taken.

Extrusion
The material was extruded through the CML small screw extruder running at 90 rpm with a 1 x 1 mm hole dies.

Spheronization
The extrudate produced were spheronized in an 85 mm diameter bowl at 2500 rpm for 8 minutes (20.000 revolutions).

Results
The extrusion and spheronization worked well with no evidence of the stickiness that was previously experienced at the customer site.

Pellet samples after spheronization and before drying. No sieving, no selection.

 

Close up images of pellets with measurements. No sieving, no selection.

 

The measurements shown on specific pellets are: -

• R = Diameter of the circle drawn around the pellet diameter in mm.
• G = Circumference in mm of the circle drawn around the pellet.
• A = Area of the circle drawn around the pellet.