Particulate operations in the pharmaceutical and fertilizer industries

拟议的研究计划侧重于具有长期总体目标的颗粒制造过程，以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预期的规格。该提案侧重于两个项目，一个在制药工业中应用，另一个在化肥工业中应用：(I)药丸包衣的调查和(Ii)生物炭造粒的调查。药物微丸可以被包衣，以产生修改的释放速率，然后包装成胶囊，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，但其制造更复杂、更耗时和更昂贵。再加上作为一种相对较新的剂型，这意味着颗粒包衣还没有得到广泛的研究，包括开发在线和实时监测方法的任何研究。本项目的目标之一是开发一种用于沸腾床球团包衣的被动声发射监测方法。农业废弃物或残渣热解的目标通常是生产生物油。生物炭是热解的固体副产物。生物炭已被证明可以通过减少养分淋失、增加水分保持和提高微生物活性来改良土壤。此外，在土壤中添加生物炭可以提供有效的碳固定。生物炭是一种很细的粉末，很难处理，如果不加修饰地应用于土壤，就会被吹走。该项目的目标之一是研究生物炭的湿式转鼓造粒，以创造一种更容易处理和有效应用于土壤的形式。拟议的研究将为两名博士、两名MESc和五名暑期学生提供培训。制药业仍然是加拿大经济中一个强劲的部门。因此，将通过拟议的研究培训的学生将毕业时掌握必要的技能，为这一行业和加拿大的经济福祉作出重要贡献。全球对农产品的需求正在增加，需要找到有效的碳封存方法来缓解气候变化。参与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，并帮助将加拿大定位为农业和气候变化战略的世界领导者。这项拟议的研究预计将对制药和农业产生影响。许多人会在一生中的某个时候患上精神疾病。药物以包衣小丸的形式包装在胶囊中，对治疗精神疾病有许多好处。然而，它们的制造是复杂的。对颗粒沸腾床包衣的被动声发射监测的开发将极大地改进这种多单位剂型的制造，因此有可能对许多加拿大人的生活产生积极影响。将生物炭颗粒化添加到土壤中有三个显著的好处：(I)农业废弃物或产生生物炭的残余物的热解也含有生物油，可以作为燃料或燃料添加剂使用；(Ii)增强的生物炭颗粒改良土壤，为植物生长提供必要的养分，植物通过光合作用吸收大气中的碳；(Iii)生物炭应用于土壤是一种有效的碳固存策略。

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.