Examining the mechanics of granulation with a hot melt binder in a twin-screw extruder.pdf

Chemical Engineering Science 81 (2012) 46–56Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirectChemical Engineering Science0009-25 http://d Abbre RPM, re distribu n Corr E-mjournal homepage: /locate/cesExamining the mechanics of granulation with a hot melt binder in a twin-screw extruderB. Mu, M.R. Thompson n MMRI/CAPPA-D, Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4L7H I G H L I G H T S G R A P H I C A L Ac Transitioning binder dispersion mechanism from immersion to dis- tribution. c Granule growth strongly related to screw design and binder concentra- tion. c Narrow residence time distribution indicating limited axial mixing.09/$ - see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. A /10.1016/j.ces.2012.06.057 viations: PEG, polyethylene glycol; DSC, diffe volutions per minute; RTD, residence time d tion esponding author. Tel.: t1 905 525 9140x23 ail address: mthomps@mcmaster.ca (M.R. ThB S T R A C Ta r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 14 May 2012 Received in revised form 24 June 2012 Accepted 27 June 2012 Available online 11 July 2012 Keywords: Continuous granulation Granular materials Particle processing Melt agglomeration Twin screw extrudera b s t r a c t Hot melt granulation involves particle enlargement with a binder that is in its molten state during processing with accompanying solids. Fundamental studies of the technique have been presented for high shear mixers and fluidized bed systems in the literature but with the recent interest in twin screw extrusion machinery by the pharmaceutical industry for continuous granulation, further investigation was necessary to determine if similar mechanisms of wetting and growth were applicable to this new approach. Two different polyethylene glycols were used for the present study as model binders at 10–20% concentrations to melt granulate a-lactose monohydrate in a co-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruder for operating temperatures between 80 1C and 120 1C. Three different scre