Particulate operations in the pharmaceutical and fertilizer industries

拟议的研究计划侧重于颗粒制造过程，其长期总体目标是提高我们对这些重要过程的理解，并开发和实施可用于在线和实时监测的方法。这将通过优化和更好的控制来提高效率，以确保最终产品达到所需的规格。该提案侧重于两个项目，一个应用于制药行业，另一个应用于化肥行业：(i)研究制药颗粒的涂层，（ii）研究生物炭造粒。**药物颗粒可以包被以产生修改的释放率，然后装入胶囊形成口服的多单位剂型。这种相对较新的剂型比传统片剂有优势，但其制造更为复杂、耗时和昂贵。再加上作为一种相对较新的剂型，这意味着颗粒包衣尚未得到广泛的研究，包括任何开发在线和实时监测方法的研究。本课题的目标之一是开发一种流化床包覆颗粒的被动声发射监测方法。**农业废弃物或残留物的热解目的通常是生产生物油。生物炭是热解的固体副产品。生物炭已被证明通过减少养分淋失、增加保水和增加微生物活性来修正土壤。此外，生物炭添加到土壤中可以提供有效的碳固存。生物炭是一种非常细的粉末，很难处理，如果不加修饰就会被吹走。该项目的目标之一是研究生物炭的湿鼓造粒，以创造一种更容易处理和有效地应用于土壤的形式。**建议的研究将提供两名博士，两名MESc和五名暑期学生的培训。制药业仍然是加拿大经济的一个强劲部门。因此，通过拟议的研究培训的学生毕业时将具备为该行业和加拿大的经济福祉作出重要贡献所需的技能。全球对农产品的需求正在增加，有必要找到有效的固碳方法来减缓气候变化。参与拟议的生物炭颗粒研究的学生有一个绝佳的机会，为重大的全球问题提供独特的解决方案，并帮助加拿大在农业和气候变化战略方面处于世界领先地位。**拟议的研究对制药业和农业都有预期的影响。许多人在人生的某个阶段会患上精神疾病。将药物包装成胶囊，在治疗精神疾病方面有很多好处。然而，它们的制造是复杂的。流化床颗粒涂层被动声发射监测的发展将显著改善这种多单位剂型的生产，因此有可能对许多加拿大人的生活产生积极影响。将生物炭制成颗粒添加到土壤中有三个显著的好处：(i)产生生物炭的农业废弃物或残留物的热解也有生物油作为产品，可以用作燃料或燃料添加剂；（ii）增强的生物炭颗粒可以修正土壤并为植物生长提供必要的营养，植物通过光合作用吸收大气中的碳；（iii）将生物炭施用于土壤是一种有效的固碳策略。

The proposed research program focuses on particulate manufacturing processes with long term general objectives to improve our understanding of these important processes and to develop and implement methods that can be used for monitoring online and in real time. This will lead to increased efficiency through optimization and better control to ensure that the final products achieve desired specifications. The proposal focuses on two projects, one with applications in the pharmaceutical industry and the other in the fertilizer industry: (i) investigation of coating of pharmaceutical pellets and (ii) investigation of biochar granulation. **Pharmaceutical pellets can be coated to create modified release rates and then packed into capsules to form a multiple unit dosage form that is taken orally. This relatively new dosage form has advantages over conventional tablets, but its manufacture is more complicated, time-consuming and expensive. Combined with being a relatively new dosage form, this means that pellet coating has not yet been extensively studied including any research on developing online and real time monitoring methods. One of the objectives of this project is to develop a passive acoustic emission monitoring method for fluidized bed coating of pellets.**The goal of pyrolysis of agricultural wastes or residues is usually to produce bio-oil. Biochar is the solid by-product of pyrolysis. Biochar has been proven to amend soil by reducing nutrient leaching, increasing water retention and increasing microbial activity. In addition, biochar addition to soils could provide effective carbon sequestration. Biochar is a very fine powder that is difficult to handle and would be blown away if applied to soils without modifications. One of the objectives of this project is to investigate wet drum granulation of biochar to create a form that would be easier to handle and apply effectively to the soil. **The proposed research will provide training for two PhD, two MESc and five summer students. The pharmaceutical industry remains a strong sector of the Canadian economy. The students that will be trained through the proposed research will thus graduate with the skills necessary to make an important contribution to this industry and to the economic well-being of Canada. The global demand for agricultural commodities is increasing and there is a need to find effective carbon sequestration methods to mitigate climate change. Students involved in the proposed research on biochar granulation have a fantastic opportunity to provide a unique solution to significant global problems and help to position Canada as a world leader in agriculture and climate change strategy.**The proposed research has anticipated impact for both the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Many will develop a mental illness at some point in their lives. Drugs taken as coated pellets packed into capsules have many benefits for treating mental illnesses. Their manufacture, however, is complex. The development of passive acoustic emission monitoring of fluidized bed coating of pellets will significantly improve manufacturing of this multiple unit dosage form and therefore have the potential to positively impact the lives of many Canadians. The granulation of biochar to add to soils has a three significant benefits: (i) the pyrolysis of agricultural wastes or residues that produces the biochar also has bio-oil as a product that can be used as a fuel or fuel additive, (ii) enhanced biochar granules amend the soil and provide necessary nutrients for plant growth with plants absorbing atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis, (iii) biochar applied to soils is an effective carbon sequestration strategy.