Power consumption profiles in high-shear wet granulation. I: Liquid distribution in relation to powder and binder...

Wet granulation processes frequently rely on the device power consumption profile to monitor the process endpoint. This work shows how the observed power consumption relates to the physical properties of the mass. The liquid binder was traced with a fluorescent marker and the liquid distribution could be followed during the process. It was found that primary agglomerates form in the reactor, the shape and composition of which depend on the wettability of the starting powders by the liquid binder. An increase of the device power consumption is conditional to the disruption of these primary agglomerates. Increasing the viscosity of liquid binders up to 250 mPa. s had no significant effect on the power consumption. Eventually, the lower surface tension liquid binders yielded greater energy consumption, indicating that interparticle friction forces had a great impact on the device power consumption.