ILC Dover, which specializes in engineering solutions for pharmaceutical and life science applications, released test results regarding the efficacy of its new semi-automated JetBreaker System that is designed to disaggregate powdered media and buffer powders allowing for superior mixing into solution.
 
To improve the process for a U.S.-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, ILC performed tests at its facility in Rossens, Switzerland. These tests established that its JetBreaker delumping system can effectively replace the manual operations that the pharmaceutical company was using.
 
“Many powders, including sodium chloride and ammonium sulfide, can harden into a solid block that cannot be dispensed into process liquids without deagglomeration,” said Scott Patterson, ILC Dover vice president of commercial sales. “If the resultant aggregate is not fine enough, it can damage process valves, the tank and other processing equipment — ultimately ruining the batch of finished pharmaceutical product.”
 
According to the company, tests conducted by ILC proved the ability of its JetBreaker system to produce homogeneous powder with proper particle size that ensures complete mixing with a Large Jet Injector.
 
“Powder clumping is an industrywide problem, which is currently managed in a highly imprecise manner,” said Mr. Patterson. “Using our JetBreaker system eliminates this problem. Once the powder goes through the JetBreaker, it can freely flow into our mixing system with rapid dissolution and no risk of powder chunks plugging or damaging the venturi or downstream components.”
 
Test results were successful for powders flowing through a feed hopper into ILC’s Jet venturi mixing system at 1,250 kilograms per hour. Complete sample test results are available at www.ILCDover.com/Mixing.