Study of the Influence of Spheronization and Drying Conditions on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Neutral Spheroids Containing Avicel PH 101 and Lactose

Abstract

Beginning with binary Avicel-lactose (20/80) mixtures, the present study focuses on the influence of the spheronization speed and the drying process on the porousness, surface condition and the pressure resistance of neutral spheroids prepared by extrusion/ spheronization. Any increase in the spheronization speed provokes a decrease in the porousness and the average diameter of the pores, and gives a greater hardness and a smoother surface condition. In the final production phase, oven drying gives less porous and harder minigranules and a more homogenous surface than those dried by microwaves. In the experiment conditions, a negative correlation between porousness and hardness was established.