Equipment Use For Powder Mixing

Powder mixing / Solid mixing / Dry mixing:

Powder mixing is when two or more than two powders are mixed to form a bulk mixture (bulk powder) which is further divided into number of unit dosage form. Each unit dosage form contains same proportion of ingredients.

Bulk mixtures can be tablets,  capsules,  granules or powder as such dosage form.

Equipments use for powder mixing:

Classification of powder mixing equipments:

1. Rotating shell mixer / tumbling mixer
2. Fixed shell mixer / agitator mixer
3. Fluidized air mixer
4. Sigma blade mixer
5. High speed mixer and granulator
6. Peddle mixer

Rotating shell mixer / tumbling mixer:

In rotating shell mixer or tumbling mixer container or shell will rotate. When the container rotate it will give tumbling action. Rotating shell mixer or tumbling mixer give rapid mixing and produce tumbling action.

All empty containers do not contain blades expect V shape containers / mixer which contain blade and give tumbling action.

What is tumbling action ?

Mechanism of action of rotating shell mixer / tumbling mixer

When the container rotate, if the speed is optimum particles go on top complete half circle and then fall suddenly and violently. Tumbling action is that when particles fall suddenly and violently.

Optimum speed is necessary for the proper action because when the speed is slow there will be no mixing and when the speed is high also there will be no mixing because particles stuck on the walls of container due to centrifugal force.

Rotating shell mixer or tumbling mixer is used for tabled manufacturing.

We add lubricant and granulating agent and glidants to make granules. V shape mixer is more efficient use for dry powder and liquid.

Types of rotating shell mixer or tumbling mixer

Rotating shell mixer / tumbling mixer:

• Drum mixer / cylindrical mixer
• Cubical mixer / cube shaped mixer
• V shaped mixer / twins shell mixer
• Y shaped mixer
• Double cone mixer

Fixed shell mixer / agitator mixer:

In the fixed shell mixer or agitator mixer the blade rotate instead of container. Fixed shell mixer or agitator mixer give slow mixing.  In fixed shell mixer or agitator mixer no tumbling action is produced.

Fixed shell mixer or agitator mixer is used for viscous powders.

Types of fixed shell mixer or agitator mixer

Fixed shell mixer / agitator mixer:

• Ribbon shaped mixer
• Nauta mixer / vertical impeller mixer

Mixing mechanism for powder mixing:

1. Convective mixing
2. Shear mixing
3. Diffusive mixing

Convective mixing:

Transfer of large amount of powder from one location to another location with the help of peddle or revolving blades.

Shear mixing:

When we hit the powder with the force produce the shear forces, particles will move.

Hitting +force = shear force

With the hitting particles will breakdown.  With shear lumps and aggregates of particles breakdown by producing movement in particles.

Diffusive mixing:

Movement of individual molecule from one location to another location within a system by diffusive method.

In powder mixing , powder bed  is dilated. Diffusive mixing is used for potent drug and general drugs.

Peddle mixer:

There are three types of peddle mixer.

1. For liquid
2. For solid
3. For semi solid

For liquid:

For liquid mixing we use planetry peddle mixer which rotate on its on axis.

For solid:

For solid mixing we use flat blade peddle mixer.

For semi solid:

For semi solid or viscous mixing we use multiple peddle mixer.

Ribbon mixer:

Construction of ribbon mixer:

• Ribbon mixer have inlet or feed from where we add powder.
• Ribbon or helical shaped two large size blades.
• Horizontal shaft which is attached with motor.
• Large surface area of container.
• Outlet for product

Working of ribbon mixer:

First of all add the powder from inlet and on the motor. With the motor shaft is attached on which the two large size blades are attached.

When the blades rotate it produces convective mixing + shear mixing + diffusive mixing .

Lumps or the aggregates will be breakdown.

Drawback of ribbon mixer:

• In ribbon mixer there is the formation of dead spot.
• The ribbon mixer is difficult to wash.
• In ribbon mixer the dead spot is difficult to eliminate.
• Ribbon mixer take 30 minutes to mix the powder.

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