AGGLOMERATION BEHAVIOR OF POWDERS IN A LODIGE MIXER GRANULATOR

The agglomeration of a powder mixture which is commonly used to make g ranules containing enzyme was examined in a high shear mixer granulato r of the Lodige type. The validity and extension of current granulatio n theory for practical high shear granulation was investigated. The ef fects of process variables such as the amount of binder liquid, choppe r impact, binder viscosity and temperature on the granulation were in agreement with the theory. The onset of the different granulation mech anisms (nucleation, compaction, coalescence, and crushing and layering ) was demonstrated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved .