In the pharmaceutical industry, the fluid bed granulator/dryer is an integral point in the manufacture of powdered materials. Residual moisture must be kept within certain specifications to avoid fracturing of particles or caking (stickiness) of the bulk material.

Current methods for moisture measurement in pharmaceuticals are slow and cumbersome, which can lead to damaged or degraded product. The ability to monitor the residual moisture content of powders inline after drying is possible with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

This Process Application Note details the inline analysis of moisture during the drying process with NIRS. The 2060 The NIR Analyzer from Metrohm Process Analytics offers fast, reagent-free, nondestructive moisture analysis in powders. The analyzer can be used with a fluid bed probe specifically designed for these applications.

Powdered APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) and excipients are important in pharmaceutical formulation. They are easy to use and allow for accurate dosing. Additionally, they help ensure consistent formulation. They are fundamental in achieving precise drug delivery and efficacy.

The fluid bed dryer is essential in the manufacturing process for removing moisture from wet granules or particles. This step is of paramount importance as it enhances the stability and shelf-life of the final pharmaceutical product.

Additionally, the moisture content during the fluid bed drying stage significantly impacts particle size [1]. Therefore, meticulous control over moisture levels in the fluid bed dryer is imperative in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

If over-drying occurs, the granules can fracture [2], resulting in fine particles which can adversely affect the final formulation. If the product is too moist it can clump together. This causes flow blockages as well as other manufacturing problems.

The moisture content of the powder is generally determined via slow offline laboratory techniques. Often, this is done with loss on drying (10–30 minutes) after physical removal from the process with a sample thief.

Manual sampling results in delays which can cause problems whenever critical processing decisions must be made. Here, stopping the drying process at the optimal point is key.

Real-time moisture analysis in powders can be performed inline via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). NIR spectroscopy fits well within the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative as recommended by the FDA [3].

NIRS can determine the residual moisture inline without manual intervention. This leads to better process understanding, optimization, and more precise determination of the end of drying. NIRS technology for moisture control is an excellent fit due to its sensitivity to the -OH functional group.

The development of a calibration model which properly correlates NIRS results to a laboratory reference method is necessary. A fluid bed «spoon» probe designed specifically for this purpose is inserted directly into the dryer (Figure 1a). After data is collected, air purges the probe tip through integrated ports to clear the «spoon» for a new sample. Each scan takes 30 seconds, ensuring there is always an accurate snapshot of the drying process at any time (Figure 1b).

Product release delays caused by waiting for laboratory results can be minimized or eliminated with inline NIRS analysis. Determination of the end of the drying process is made when the moisture level asymptotically approaches a lower limit. The operator is aided in making the decision to end the drying operation before the product is damaged or degraded.

Output from the 2060 The NIR Analyzer (Figure 2) can be used by the fluid bed dryer’s programmable logic controller (PLC) or integrated into SIPAT (Siemens Industry Process Analytical Technology) for closed-loop process control decisions. The reduction in reprocessing steps saves manufacturers time and money. Improvement in the product quality can lead to even higher profits.

1. Fu, H.; Teng, K.; Shen, Y.; et al. Quantitative Analysis of Moisture Content and Particle Size in a Fluidized Bed Granulation Process Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Acoustic Emission Combined with Data Fusion Strategies. Rochester, NY June 8, 2023. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4473523.
2. De Leersnyder, F.; Vanhoorne, V.; Bekaert, H.; et al. Breakage and Drying Behaviour of Granules in a Continuous Fluid Bed Dryer: Influence of Process Parameters and Wet Granule Transfer. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 2018, 115, 223–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2018.01.037.
3. Aoki, H.; Hattori, Y.; Sasaki, T.; et al. Comparative Study on the Real-Time Monitoring of a Fluid Bed Drying Process of Extruded Granules Using near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Audible Acoustic Emission. Int. J. Pharm. 2022, 619, 121689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121689.