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Direct pelletization in a rotary processor controlled by torque measurements. II: Effects of changes in the content of microcrystalline cellulose

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Abstract

In the present study we investigated the effect of changes in the content of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) on a direct pelletization process in a rotary processor in which the liquid addition was terminated once a certain increase in torque was produced. Nine different mixtures of MCC and lactose with MCC contents varying from 10% to 100% (w/w) were pelletized using 6 different torque increase levels, and the changes in pellet characteristics were investigated. The pellet characteristics investigated were pellet shape, size, and size distribution as well as the water content of the pellets at the end of liquid addition. To produce spherical agglomerates with suitable characteristics in a reproducible way, a content of a least 20% (w/w) MCC was found necessary. Linear correlations were found between the MCC content and the water content and between the torque incraase and the water content, showing that the torque increase is suitable to control the process. A higher torque increase or a higher MCC content was found to increase the water content independently of each other.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, 2-Universitetsparken, DK-2100, Copenhagen East, Denmark

    Jakob Kristensen & Torben Schæfer

  2. Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany

    Peter Kleinebudde

Authors
  1. Jakob Kristensen
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  2. Torben Schæfer
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  3. Peter Kleinebudde
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Correspondence to Jakob Kristensen.

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Published August 16, 2000

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Kristensen, J., Schæfer, T. & Kleinebudde, P. Direct pelletization in a rotary processor controlled by torque measurements. II: Effects of changes in the content of microcrystalline cellulose. AAPS PharmSci 2, 24 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1208/ps020324

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1208/ps020324

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