Application of the Discrete Element Method for Manufacturing Process Simulation in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Engineering
• Computational Modeling
• Materials Science

Background:

• Mathematical modeling is increasingly vital in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Mechanistic models, like Discrete Element Method (DEM), improve process understanding, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.
• Pharmaceuticals often involve powders and granular materials, making DEM a relevant simulation tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles of DEM.
• To explore DEM implementations in pharmaceutical manufacturing simulations.
• To categorize and summarize DEM applications in key pharmaceutical processes.

Main Methods:

• Focus on essential DEM components: contact models and input parameters.
• Contact models calculate forces between particles and geometry.
• Input parameters include material and interaction properties, with calibration methods discussed for pharmaceutical materials.

Main Results:

• DEM simulations require accurate contact models and calibrated input parameters.
• DEM has been applied to pharmaceutical processes including milling, blending, granulation, and coating.
• Calibration methods are crucial for defining interaction parameters for specific pharmaceutical materials.

Conclusions:

• DEM simulation provides a systematic approach to understanding and controlling pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Effective implementation of DEM can lead to improved drug product quality.
• Further application of DEM is recommended for pharmaceutical process optimization.