Grinding in an air classifier mill — Part II: Characterisation of the two-phase flow

Development of a Model for the Separation Characteristics of a Deflector Wheel Classifier Including Particle Collision and Rebound Behavior

Deflector wheel classifiers are widespread in industry for the separation of powders into fine and coarse powders. Even though this separation process has been known for quite some time, it is not yet fully understood, and existing models fail to precisely predict the separation characteristics. Due to the high throughput of deflector wheel classifiers, it is greatly beneficial to estimate the separation characteristics before the experiment. Here, the developed model critically examines the usual assumptions, such as ideal airflow, neglection of particle–wall and particle–particle interactions, or spherically-shaped particles. First, the investigation of the air flow using a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system showed significant differences to the assumed ideal flow field, then particle sphericity and its influence on the interaction between the particles and the paddles of the deflector wheel was investigated and compared with particle rebound behavior on a static wall. Surprisingly, comminuted glass behaves similarly to comminuted limestone in multiple aspects and not like glass beads. To determine the number of particle–particle collisions, Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations were performed. The aforementioned aspects found application in the model and the separation behavior was well-estimated.

Modeling and Simulation of Process Technology for Nanoparticulate Drug Formulations-A Particle Technology Perspective

Crystalline organic nanoparticles and their amorphous equivalents (ONP) have the potential to become a next-generation formulation technology for dissolution-rate limited biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class IIa molecules if the following requisites are met: (i) a quantitative understanding of the bioavailability enhancement benefit versus established formulation technologies and a reliable track record of successful case studies are available; (ii) efficient experimentation workflows with a minimum amount of active ingredient and a high degree of digitalization via, e.g., automation and computer-based experimentation planning are implemented; (iii) the scalability of the nanoparticle-based oral delivery formulation technology from the lab to manufacturing is ensured. Modeling and simulation approaches informed by the pharmaceutical material science paradigm can help to meet these requisites, especially if the entire value chain from formulation to oral delivery is covered. Any comprehensive digitalization of drug formulation requires combining pharmaceutical materials science with the adequate formulation and process technologies on the one hand and quantitative pharmacokinetics and drug administration dynamics in the human body on the other hand. Models for the technical realization of the drug production and the distribution of the pharmaceutical compound in the human body are coupled via the central objective, namely bioavailability. The underlying challenges can only be addressed by hierarchical approaches for property and process design. The tools for multiscale modeling of the here-considered particle processes (e.g., by coupled computational fluid dynamics, population balance models, Noyes–Whitney dissolution kinetics) and physiologically based absorption modeling are available. Significant advances are being made in enhancing the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds by applying innovative solutions. As examples, the predictive modeling of anti-solvent precipitation is presented, and options for the model development of comminution processes are discussed.