Pharmacy Mixing Operations Quiz

Mixing in Pharmaceutical Production

• Primary purpose of mixing in production of tablets, sachets, and dry capsules: to achieve uniform distribution of ingredients and ensure consistent quality
• Rapid dissolution of a solid in a solvent is facilitated by increased surface area, temperature, and agitation
• Mixing in emulsions and creams: to create a stable mixture of two or more immiscible liquids
• Mixing in production of pastes: to achieve uniform consistency and distribution of ingredients

Types of Mixtures

• Homogeneous mixture: formed from materials such as gases or miscible liquids that mix spontaneously and irreversibly by diffusion
• Unstable mixture: requires energy to be supplied to keep components adequately dispersed
• Static mixture: static in behavior, neither mixing nor de-mixing occurs, unless acted upon by an external system of forces

Mechanisms of Mixing

• Macromixing: involves the transfer of groups of particles in bulk from one part of the powder bed to another
• Micromixing: involves the creation of shear forces within the mass of the material by using an agitator arm or a blast of air
• Diffusion mixing: involves tilting the materials so that gravitational forces cause the upper layers to slip and diffusion of individual particles takes place over newly developed surfaces

Filtration in Pharmaceutical Production

• Primary purpose of filtration: to separate particles of different sizes
• Filter medium's role: to act as a barrier, allowing smaller particles to pass through while retaining larger particles
• Filter cake: accumulated solids on the filter that can be removed and washed
• General process of filtration: based on the size of particles to be separated, with smaller particles passing through the filter medium

Clarification and Sterile Filtration

• Clarification: process of removing solid particles from a liquid to achieve a clear solution
• Application of filtration in pharmaceutical formulation: to remove impurities, improve product quality, and ensure safety
• Primary purpose of HEPA filters and laminar air benches: to prevent contamination in the production of sterile products
• Bacteria-proof filters: used in the production of injectable products
• Mechanism of depth filtration: involves the penetration of particles into the filter medium
• Filter medium with high mechanical strength and high capacity: cheaper to use and more efficient

Filtration Rate and Darcy's Equation

• Rate of filtration: expressed in terms of volume of liquid filtered per unit time
• Darcy's Equation: aims to incorporate the effects of filter medium, particle size, and fluid properties on filtration rate
• Filtration is not a steady state: flow rate decreases over time due to clogging of the filter medium

Test your knowledge of mixing operations in pharmacy production, including the definition of mixing and the process of making simple physical mixtures for tablets, sachets, and dry capsules.