Unit processes Flashcards
Part 1: size reduction
first step in manufacture of many dosage forms?
Particle size reduction
Some powders might form clumps during storage - must be broken-up before the powder can be used.
5 aims/ benefits of Particle size reduction?
- improve mixing
- increase specific SA: impacts dissolution rate and flow properties
- control texture and feel (organoleptic properties)
- ensure ease of administration, e.g. injectables, mostly for suspensions
- promote stability, e.g. in suspensions
define toughness?
Toughness is a measure of a material’s resistance to fracture.
brittle vs tough material and examples of each?
Brittle: fracture/break when subjected to stress. not much energy req. Glass
Tough: requires more energy to break. more difficult to reduce size. Steel
difference between plastic and elastic deformation?
examples
elastic deformation: change in shape under tensile stress. reversible once stress removed unless if stressed beyond limit
elastic band
plastic deformation:change in shape under stress, permanent once stress removed
clingfilm
how do fractures occur in brittle materials?
and in ductile?
A brittle material will experience little elastic or plastic deformation before it breaks, fracture will happen through crack propagation; while, a ductile material will undergo significant plastic deformation before it brakes.
whats hardness a measure of and what material will be at top/bottom of Mohs scale?
measure of material’s ability to resist plastic deformation through indentation or abrasion.
Mohs scale: to compare hardness of diff minerals. Diamonds at top,
talc, a soft material- bottom.
why do particle size reduction mechanisms matter?
i.e. what 2 factors influence the process?
Both toughness and hardness are likely to influence the particle size reduction process.
what phenomenon does particle size red. work through?
Crack propagation, i.e. fracture of a brittle material under stress.
will deformation from crack propagation -> particle size red. be permanent or temporary? why?
deformation = permanent as the stress ->bond rupture.
The crack is propagated along the flaws in the material and happens at high speed in the solid.
what affects the efficacy of the particle size reduction process?
the ability of the material to resist crack propagation or brittle fracture will affect the efficacy of the particle size reduction process.
only little energy provided to system is used to reduce particle size. not very efficient!!
how is most energy lost?
most of the energy is lost through
heat, friction, vibration, crack initiation or elastic/plastic deformation.
how does PSR of harder materials compare with very soft?
both can be difficult!
hard = wear and tear to equipment
very soft e.g. rubber- also problematic
what is beneficial about rubber and other waxy/sticky materials that allows PSR to be performed (at low temps)?
become brittle when cooled at low temps (often well below freezing point)
reason for PSR (linked to behaviour of powder)?
PSR = narrow size distribution = impacts behaviour
how does particle size affect PSR process?
2 responses to milling
will respond diff
bigger: change size
can be
- bimodal: alr reduction in size
- unimodal (normal distribution)
after time, what ahppens to the normal distribution unimodal curve in milling/PSR process?
% freq/ diameter graph
peak moves to left (i.e. smaller diameter)
overall particle size reduced :)
in PSR process, why do we not want to reduce size too much?
cohesive (like) forces increase
implications on powder flow
4 Different types of mechanical stress that can be used to break down particles. (PSR methods)
cutting
compression
impact
attrition
PSR reduction methods
what is compression? how is it done in lab
Pressure applied to break down the powder.
In the lab- mortar and pestle
PSR reduction methods
how is impact done?
powder hit by hammers or porcelain/stainless steel balls
PSR reduction methods
whats attrition?
Fragments breaking away from a larger powder particle under shear, friction, agitation, etc.
what are each of the 5 mills in PSR used for?
cutting mill roller mill hammer mill ball mill fluid energy mill
cutting mill: cutting
roller mill: compression
hammer mill: impact
ball mill: impact and attrition
fluid energy mill:impact and attrition
particle size range that can be used in each of the 5 mills of PSR? i.e. put in order smallest-biggest
cutting mill roller mill hammer mill ball mill fluid energy mill
ball mill
hammer mill
cutting mill
roller mill
fluid energy mill (anything up to 50,000 microns)
whats the principle of cutting mill?
Particles fractured between 2 sets of knives.
A stationary set on the mill casing and a set attached to the rotor.
whats the principle of roller mill?
Powder is compressed between two rotating cylinders.
whats the principle of hammer mill?
Particle size is reduced upon impact driven by 4 (or more) rotating hammers
whats the principle of ball mill?
rotating cylinder filled to 30-50% with balls. The mill can be filled with a variety of ball sizes to improve the size reduction process.
whats the principle of fluid energy mill?
Air is injected at a high-pressure, creating turbulence = particle collision with other particles and with the wall of the mill.
what does Particle size reduction: method selection depend on?
intended use of the powder
Beyond this, method selection will depend on particle properties (i.e. toughness and hardness).
!!
what PSR method used to produce VERY coarse powders (> 1000 microns)
Cutting methods for tough/soft particles
Roller or hammer mill for harder particles
!!
what PSR method used to produce coarse powders (50-1000 microns)
Soft/tough materials: size reduction performed under liquid nitrogen
Cutting still possible for soft materials, under liquid nitrogen
!!
what PSR method used to produce fine powders (<50 microns)
Ball or vibration mill
under liquid nitrogen for soft materials
how can Size separation be performed? 3 methods
Size separation can be performed using:
- sieving methods
- sedimentation
- elutration
size separation:
1. sieving methods can be used with or without help of?
w/w out agitation, brushing, centirfugation
what is 2. sedimentation based on?
similar principle as sedimentation-based particle size analysis
what is 3. Elutration?
separation under a fluid layer moving upwards
What is the difference between a brittle and plastic material?
Plastic materials change shape permanently
Brittle materials undergo limited elastic or plastic deformation before breaking
benefits of PSR?
Increased Dissolution Rate.
Improved Drug Delivery.
Increase therapeutic effectiveness of certain drugs Pharmaceutical suspensions require finer particle size. Reduces rate of sedimentation.
How does particle size reduction affect size distribution?
what should be seen at end of PSR process and during initial?
should see a decrease in the size distribution.
In the initial stages, distribution might be widened.
factors to take into consideration when choosing a particle reduction method
intended use,
target particle size
or powder properties (e.g. hardness/toughness)
TRUE or FALSE: A cutter mill can be used to produce fine particles from a hard material
FALSE: cutting mill is used to produce coarse and very coarse powders.
Part 2: mixing
3 ingredients mixing can involve?
Solids
e.g. tablets, capsules, sachets, bulk powders
Liquids
e.g. emulsion
Solids in liquids or semi-solids
e.g. pastes, suspensions
Mechanisms of mixing
STATE the different types of mixing/mixtures (3)
Positive (simplest)
Neutral
Negative
Describe the main mechanisms leading to mixing (2)
Small scale mixing: using simple equipment
- mortar and pestle
- glass tile
- closed container
Large scale mixing: Industrial-scale
Convection
Shear
Diffusion
Explain what demixing is and how it can be prevented
separation of individual powders from a powder blend = huge implications for quality and uniformity of solid dosage form
Powder blends are neutral mixtures: so easiest way to avoid demixing = limit handling of the powder bed.
why is PSR often a pre-requisite to mixing?
helps incorporation and more efficient mixixng, successful outcome quicker
what = ideal mix (of both powders evenly distributed in powder blend)?
true if both powders:
- similar quantities
- similar powder properties
whether mixing and demixing is spontaneous or not has an influence on what?
The type of mixing:
positive (simplest), neutral or negative mixture
What mixture category do powder blends fall into and what does this mean?
neutral mixture category
mixing and demixing = NOT spontaneous
- energy input required for powders to mix/ demix
describe the type of mix most likely to result form mixing 2 powders
random mix (not ideal mix)
not completely uniform.
zones with higher conc of Powder A/B.
a caution when taking small samples of random mix of 2 powders etc.?
can work with this but ensure good distribution of both powders when you take small samples
technique used for small scale mixing (when unequal amounts of powders are mixed together)?
use mortar and pestle
Doubling-up technique can also help achieve a good distribution when unequal amounts of powders are mixed together.
Describe the different types of mixing/mixtures (3)
- is mixing spontaneous or not?
- is energy needed?
Positive (simplest)
- spontaneous mixing
- energy only req if time constraint
Neutral
- non-spontaneous mixing and demixing
- need energy input
Negative
- spontaneous demixing: fast/slow
- need energy input
which type of mixing is least problematic in drug formulation?
positive.
leats likely to demix
also spontaneous mixing- can occur between miscible liquids, gases e.g. air
when is segregation/demixing of powders likely in a neutral mixture?
only if its disturbed
why is negative mixing a challenge in drug formulation?
spontaneously demix- can happen fast or slow
example of negative mixing?
emulsions w no stabiliser- must input energy to mix oil and water
once mixture left to rest, O and W will spontaneously demix
3 steps/ mechanisms of large scale industrial mixing?
- convection
- shear
- diffusion
large scale: what is 1. convection mixing?
what is it the main mixing mechanism for?
powder moved in bulk from one part of powder to another.
Convection = main mixing mechanism for agitator mixers
2 types of convection mixers and what do they acheive?
planetary mixers and ribbon mixers
achieve macromixing (i.e. mixing of large groups of particles), which is large scale mixing under stirring.
convection mixers: 2 pros, 1 con?
+ can mix powders with poor flow properties
+ lower risk of segregation/demixing vs tumble mixers
- dead spots (where no mixing) in hard to reach corners. hard to avoid
large scale: what is 2. shear mixing?
2 types?
layers of bulk powder are moved during the mixing process.
v blender and High-shear mixer granulator
what mixing is acheived in shear mixing (large scale)?
what is this process the main mechanism for?
semi-micromixing, intermediate between the macromixing of agitators and micromixing (i.e. mixing of individual particles) of diffusion methods.
Shear mixing is the main mechanism for:
Tumbling agitators
large scale: what is 3. diffusion mixing and type?
individual particles are moved during the mixing process.
This allows micromixing as particles rearrange as they mix.
Diffusion mixing is the main mechanism for?
and whats the method typically used for?
Fluidised bed mixers
Typically used to dry and coat granules, but can allow for mixing of powders before granulation