Effervescent tablet production, an important branch of the pharmaceutical industry, requires special attention and precision in the use of dehumidifiers. The active ingredients in effervescent tablets have chemical properties that react quickly upon contact with water. The production process starts with the preparation of raw materials, followed by measuring, mixing, and granulating carefully selected ingredients. Using dry or wet granulation methods, the powder components are converted into granules of appropriate size and density. These granules are then pressed into tablet form.
At every step, precise temperature and humidity control are necessary to maintain product quality and safety. Dehumidifiers that provide dry air and integrate with temperature control equipment are crucial in effervescent tablet production. To ensure the stability of the products' chemical and physical properties throughout the process, the temperature and humidity values must be continuously monitored and maintained within limits by a central automation system. Temperature can affect the chemical reaction rates of the raw materials in effervescent tablet production. High temperatures can impact the chemical stability of some ingredients, leading to degradation or loss of efficacy. Uncontrolled humidity levels can increase or decrease the rate of some chemical reactions. Many pharmaceutical ingredients are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture. This can affect the composition and chemical stability of the product in high-humidity environments. Particularly during granulation, humidity can negatively affect the physical integrity and uniformity of the tablets, while temperature can affect the hardness and solubility of the pressed tablets.
Calcium Acetate (CA) and Sodium Bicarbonate (SBC) in effervescent tablet formulations can react with moisture. Sodium bicarbonate can hydrolyze when exposed to moisture. Without dehumidifiers controlling the inconsistent humidity in the production area, acid-base reactions can occur, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, leading to early effervescence of the tablets. Once an autocatalytic reaction starts, it becomes impossible to control the process during production and storage stages. Therefore, silica gel industrial dehumidifiers should be integrated into the climate control systems in production areas to maintain ambient humidity at 20-25% RH (relative humidity). Considering the sensitivity of the silica gel rotor and system filtration in the dehumidifiers and the production of dust in effervescent tablet production areas, it is recommended that the air is not recirculated without dust collection units, and systems are designed to use 100% fresh air in accordance with relevant regulations.
In the hygothermal process of effervescent tablet production, it is important to remember that dehumidifiers will add additional thermal load to the existing cooling capacity of the climate control system. This additional load must be included in the capacity calculations. Maintaining stable humidity control in effervescent tablet production rooms is crucial, ensuring the relative humidity does not drop below 20%. If the relative humidity falls below a certain level, static electricity generated by the friction of the process machines with dust cannot be dissipated by water molecules and ions in the air, remaining on surfaces within the room. Static electricity can cause dust particles to stick together or to equipment, leading to partial production stoppages. In areas with low air quality, where dust and particles accumulate in the air, static electricity can create a spark, leading to fires or dust explosions. When configuring dehumidifiers to work integrated with the climate control systems in effervescent tablet rooms, all system parameters must be thoroughly analyzed. Environmental conditions necessary for the effervescent tablet room should be established based on flow rate, pressure, humidity, temperature, and particle targets, and the internal climate values should be set accordingly.
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