Extrusion spheronization is a multiple process of wet mass extrusion followed by spheronization to produce uniform size spherical particles, called as spheroids, pellets, beads or matrix pellets depending upon the material as well as process used for extrusion spheronization1.

What is used in extrusion Spheronization process?

In extrusion–spheronization, first the dry powder mix is agglomerated with the help of a binding liquid. Then it is processed in the extruder to produce high-density extrudates. These extrudates are finally converted to pellets on spheronizer.

What is Spheronization process?

Spheronization is the process where extrudates (the output from an extruder) are shaped into small rounded or spherical granules. In practice these usually vary in size from 0.4 to about 3.0 mm. The use of these spheroids can be relevant for a wide variety of industries.

What is the purpose of Spheronization?

Spheronization improves your product’s performance by: Producing a smooth particle surface suitable for thin layer coating. Forming granules with a specific bio-consumable shape. Conditioning particles to prevent generation of dust and fines from usage or shipping.

Why granulation is required?

Why is Granulation Necessary? The granulation process allows particles to stick together more firmly. It increases the particle size of the constituents used, which are mostly very fine powders. The greater the particle size of a constituent, greater will be its compressive or binding ability.

What is hot melt extrusion technology?

Hot melt extrusion (HME) is the process of applying heat and pressure to melt a polymer and forcing it through an orifice in a continuous process. HME is well-known, developed to produce polymer products of uniform shape and density, and its industrial application dates back to the 1930s1.

What are pharmaceutical pellets?

In the pharmaceutical industry, pellets can be defined as small, free-flowing, spherical particulates manufactured by the agglomeration of fine powders or granules of drug substances and excipients using appropriate processing equipment.

What is pelletization process?

The principle behind pelletizing processes (also known as agglomeration) is the opposite of grinding technology: it consists of gathering together or clustering fine solid particles in order to form elements of larger dimensions (spheres, bricks or even cylindrical pellets).

What equipment is used for granulation?

The equipments that could be used for melt granulation are high-shear mixer and fluidized bed granulator.

What is high moisture extrusion?

High-moisture (wet) extrusion process is a technology for texturizing vegetable protein into a product with fibrous texture like animal meat. This process is known to be a better method than conventional low-moisture (dry) extrusion for enhancing the texture of meat analogue.