Melt pelletization in a high shear mixer .6. Agglomeration of a cohesive powder

A cohesive grade of anhydrous lactose was melt pelletized in an 8-1 high shear mixer using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3000 or 6000 as meltable binder in varying concentrations. The agglomerate growth was dependent on the liquid saturation of the agglomerates. The process was difficult to control, because the liquid saturation had to exceed 100% in order to produce agglomerates of pellet size. PEG 6000 gave rise to agglomerates that were more sticky than those produced with PEG 3000. The pelletization properties were not improved by the addition of 10% or 20% of a coarser anhydrous lactose.