title: Influence of production variables on the sphericity of melt pellets.
abstract: This paper reports the influence of post-melt impeller speed, post-melt processing time, binder concentration and particle size of bulk material on the sphericity of pellets produced by melt pelletization in a high shear mixer. Lactose was used as the bulk material with polyethylene glycol 3000 as a meltable binder. The sphericity of pellets was found to be affected by post-melt impeller speed and post-melt processing time. Binder concentration and particle size of bulk material had a lesser effect on pellet sphericity. The melt pelletization process can be divided into two spheronization phases (a fast initial rate, followed by a slower rate). The change in the spheronization rate was associated with the pellet size, porosity and flow pattern of the processing material. The present study established a bi-exponential mathematical model to relate the pellet sphericity with post-melt specific energy consumption. The relationship of pellet sphericity with post-melt specific energy consumption was independent of the effects of the production variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005079:Excipients; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007785:Lactose; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005079:Excipients; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D007785:Lactose