Drying Process in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Moisture Content and Drying Processes

• The term for moisture content that is more difficult to remove in practice is bound moisture.
• Air is considered saturated at a relative humidity (RH) of 100%.
• A psychrometer measures relative humidity by comparing air temperature with cooling effects from a wet bulb.
• When temperature is raised, relative humidity (RH) generally decreases, as warmer air can hold more moisture.

Moisture Content in Solids

• The total moisture content of a solid consists of free moisture and bound moisture.
• Drying is defined as the process of removing moisture from a material, typically for preservation or processing.

Challenges in Drying

• The primary challenge in drying processes is to effectively remove moisture without compromising the quality of the material.
• Total moisture content of a wet solid is expressed as a percentage of the solid's weight.

Importance of Residual Moisture Control

• Rendering residual moisture low enough during drying is critical to prevent microbial growth and spoilage.
• To minimize thermal degradation during drying, the best approach is to use controlled drying temperatures and processes that reduce exposure time.

Test your knowledge about the drying process in pharmaceutical manufacturing, including the importance of residual moisture, the definition of drying, and the removal of liquid through thermal vaporization. This quiz is based on the book 'Aulton's Pharmaceutics: The Design and Manufacture of Medicines' by Michael Aulton.