Glatt in the collaborative project “ASTEROID-WS”

Automatic control and regulation online in the fluid bed

The aim of the joint project was the realization of a measurement and control system for monitoring and controlling the pharmaceutical manufacturing step “fluid bed granulation” on a pilot granulator. The automatic monitoring and control of the granulation process was to be developed on the basis of the direct product properties, since the granulation process defines the basis for important characteristics of the subsequent pharmaceutical form (uniformity of the active ingredient content, or processability in tabletting). In the course of this, the influence of the data recorded today on the quality of the intermediate product produced was to be examined. In addition, new possible parameters for process control were to be found and analyzed online. These could be, for example, the particle size distribution in the granules or a surface characteristic of the particles.

At the end of the project, methods were to be developed that would make it possible to monitor and control critical (relevant) process parameters in fluid bed granulation. In principle, this was intended to establish improved process control of granulation processes in the fluidized bed. Improved granules are to be produced through the targeted influencing of property distributions in fluid bed granulation. The already high quality level in pharmaceutical production would be further increased with the consequence of producing fewer deviations, having to block fewer batches and thus also improving quality and drug safety for the end user as well as conserving natural resources.