Development of a Continuous Filter-Drier for Lab to Kilo-Lab Scale

Continuous isolation and drying is relatively rare in the pharmaceutical industry.  There are several advantages to continuous filtration and drying provided the challenges of conveying and moving wet and dry solids can be overcome.  These advantages include: 1) consistency of particle properties (eliminate batch to batch variability),  2) higher efficiency and reduced energy utilization,  3) smaller equipment size and portability.  Highly consistent particle properties of API enable lower-cost drug product options such as direct compression operations.  Direct compression and tableting operations require consistent API particle size and flow properties and high accuracy of drug-excipient blend compositions.  Other motivating factors include the design of fit for purpose portable continuous equipment.  The prototype filter drier system hardware design and system performance will be discussed.