Development of a predictive high-shear granulation model

Within the pharmaceutical industry, high-shear granulation processes are well known for the production of drug-loaded granules. Development of such granulation processes, however, is often still more an art than a science. With the use of population balances, it is possible to link granulation rates to granule properties. Previous work demonstrated that good agreement between experimental and simulated results can be achieved [Powder Technol. 130 (2003) 162]. This enabled the granulation rates to be defined by two model parameters: the critical binder volume fraction and the aggregation rate constant. The modelling framework presented in this paper forms the basis of the kinetic analysis of granulation experiments that may lead to the development of a modelling tool that cannot only be used to simulate but also predict high-shear granulation behaviour in real-life pharmaceutical processes.