title: The power-consumption-controlled extruder: a tool for pellet production.
abstract: Based on the assumption that there is a link between power consumption of an extruder and pellet properties, a control circuit for power consumption was developed. Powder and granulation liquid are fed separately into a twin-screw extruder. The power consumption is controlled by varying the pump rate at a given powder-feed rate; consequently each level of power consumption results in a specific water content of the extrudate for a particular formulation. The shape of pellets depends almost entirely on the level of power consumption irrespective of formulation. The size of dry pellets is additionally affected by a shrinking factor which depends on the water content. The power-consumption-controlled extruder is an appropriate tool for the production of pellets. The system is able to adapt the water content for a formulation automatically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleinebudde
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sølvberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindner
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004304:Dosage Forms / Q000592:standards*; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards*; D007785:Lactose / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D004304:Dosage Forms; D004343:Drug Implants; D011108:Polymers; D002482:Cellulose; D007785:Lactose