Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Process

Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Process explained.

[tomzeru]

(unofficial) video commentary :
Lyophilization is a process containing two phases : freezing and deshydratation. Freezing is important because it define the quantity of water that will be taken out of the product. Deshydratation comprehend two phases : sublimation (from liquid to gaz phase directly, with an enthalpic variation of both fusion(333) and evaporation(2501) so 2834 kj/kg) and then desorption (removal of solvent molecule from a substance i.e. drying)


0:23 Load : the pressure is atmospherical and temperature ambiant (the door has been opened to load in the first chamber) The second chamber, containing the ice trap, is closed.

0:30 Freezing : T goes to -50, -60°C in order to turn into ice the water of the product.

0:44 Primary drying : the water easiest to reach is sublimated. To do that, the pressure reduce to around 1mbar and the temperature rise to 5°C (from conduction thanks to the support and from radiation thanks to the metal tubes), to ensure that the water is below the triple mixt point (see phases diagram of water) and that the ice is turned directly into vapour. The ice-trap chamber is opened and the air flow make sure that the vapour go towards the cold tubes, which accumulate ice. Note that the water is taken out of the product at 5°C so the product is suitable for thermolabile compounds (sensitive to T like vitamins)

1:23 Secondary drying : If you follow the phases diagram, the idea here is to go lower in P and higher in T to convert as much water as possible in the vapour state. This secondary cycle has 0.01mbar and 20°C for exemple and is used to take out a supplementary amount of water that is harder to get (deeper in the matrix of the product)

nb : another drying cycle may be conducted to minimise the quantity of water content in the product and ensure that it will not have any microbial or chemical activity

1:55 At equilibrium, the ice-trap chamber is closed, the pressure return to normal (otherwise you cannot seal the vials and they would be very hard to open) and the vial are sealed.

2:02 Between each cycle the ice-trap is emptied to maximize its efficiency. It takes a few hours to melt the ice back naturally or the process can be faster with the injection of hot steam.

I imagine hydrogen peroxyde is used to sterilize the chamber

[mickstuart]

Some commentary would be great, having spent all that money on the animation

[devarshpatel]

nicely brief about Lyophilization cycle

[moorthyram]

one of the best freeze dryer for in my experience for commercial business

[abdonor]

Yes, this is what I am asking about. I am a technician in cooling devices and I want to make one. If you can help me, and if possible, a WhatsApp link so we can talk with pictures and see its external components. Thank you 👏👏

[Slblandon]

Great video, but some comments could be added in order to a better understanding of the process. Thanks.

[srinivasahs]

What is the major difference between food freeze dryer to pharmaceutical freeze dryer?

Is pharmaceutical freeze dryer not suitable for food, vegetable fruit freeze drying? Please clarify

[laliceng]

where can I get the explanation of this video with sound?

[mahanasir]

Excellent Animation. Self explainatory

[devkumarsingh]

I think GEA should add some comments for better understanding.

[abukumar]

Plz provide me operation and troubleshooting of depyrogenation tunnel ( like this animation )

[nhungnhu]

i don't understand one point. in 40-42s, water is supply into consider? what for?

[AngelLopez-fmec]

that program is that with which showed that process??

[HenrikasStatusas]

If you use heating it's not real lyophilization?