ILC Dover’s JetBreaker System allows rapid mixing of pharma powders

Published: 13-Jul-2017

ILC Dover, which specialises in engineering solutions including powder handling systems for pharmaceutical and life science applications, has proven the efficacy of its new semi-automated system that successfully disaggregates powdered media and buffer powders, allowing for superior mixing into solution

To improve the process for a US-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, ILC performed tests at its facility in Rossens, Switzerland.

These tests established its JetBreaker delumping system can effectively replace the manual operations the pharmaceutical company was previously using.

Scott Patterson, ILC Dover Vice President of Commercial Sales, said: “Many powders, including sodium chloride and ammonium sulfide, can harden into a solid block that cannot be dispensed into process liquids without deagglomeration.

“If the resultant aggregate is not fine enough, it can damage process valves, the tank and other processing equipment — ultimately ruining the batch of finished pharmaceutical product.”

Tests conducted by ILC proved the ability of its JetBreaker system to produce homogeneous powder with proper particle size ensuring complete mixing with a Large Jet Injector.

Patterson said: “Powder clumping is an industry wide problem, which is currently managed in a highly imprecise manner. Using our JetBreaker system eliminates this problem. Once the powder goes through the JetBreaker, it can freely flow into our mixing system with rapid dissolution and no risk of powder chunks plugging or damaging the venturi or downstream components.”

Test results were successful for powders flowing through a feed hopper into ILC’s Jet venturi mixing system at 1250 kg/hr.

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