Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Engineering Science
Program
Biomedical Engineering
Supervisor
Dr. Lauren Briens
Abstract
Impeller and chopper speeds were varied during the wet high shear granulation of a placebo formulation. The resulting granules were extensively analyzed for differences caused by the varying shear with emphasis on flowability. Microscopy showed that initial granules were formed primarily from microcrystalline cellulose at all tested impeller speeds. A low impeller speed of 300 rpm was insufficient to incorporate all the components of the formulation into the granules and to promote granule growth to a size that significantly improved flowability. The flow regime at higher impeller speeds promoted granule growth. Varying the chopper speed resulted in minimal differences in the granule flowability. Particle size distribution measurements and advanced indicators based on avalanching behaviour, however, showed that an impeller speed of 700 rpm with the chopper operating at 1000 rpm produced the largest fraction of optimal granules with the best flowability.
Recommended Citation
Logan, Ryan Alexandre, "THE EFFECTS OF SHEAR FORCES ON PHARMACEUTICAL HIGH SHEAR GRANULATION" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3558.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3558