Mastering Spray Drying and Spray Granulation Techniques

What are spray drying and spray granulation used for in engineering?

a. Making liquid feed into small droplets

b. Converting liquid solutions or suspensions into dry powders

c. Forming granules by spraying a liquid binder onto solid particles

Answer:

b. Converting liquid solutions or suspensions into dry powders

Spray drying and spray granulation are two techniques used in engineering for the production of powders and granules. Spray drying involves the atomization of a liquid feed into small droplets, which are then dried by hot air or gas. This process is commonly used in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries to convert liquid solutions or suspensions into dry powders.

Spray granulation, on the other hand, is a process where a liquid binder is sprayed onto solid particles, causing them to agglomerate and form granules. This technique is often used in the production of fertilizers, detergents, and pharmaceuticals.

The typical particle size achieved by spray drying ranges from a few micrometers to several hundred micrometers, while spray granulation typically results in particle sizes in the range of tens to hundreds of micrometers.