8th International Symposium
on Agglomeration
2003 Richardson Travel Award Report by Ian Gabbott, University
of Sheffield.
Bangkok, Thailand
Buoyed by the hot and sunny Bangkok weather, participants
attending the 8th International Symposium on Agglomeration
arrived to find a complete program of oral and poster presentations
featuring the latest developments in agglomeration technology.
The most recent in the successful International Symposium
series of meetings, held in the heart of Bangkok, included
over 40 technical presentations, 10 invited lectures and many
more contributed papers and posters. The symposium encompassed
all types of size enlargement processes, including wet and
dry granulation, compaction, spray drying, prilling, encapsulation,
coating, instantising, and pelletisation over a similarly
broad range of industries, from chemical, pharmaceutical,
cosmetics, detergents and food to iron and steel, coal and
coke and mineral processing.
Starting the daily sessions were captivating keynote lectures
by - Hans Leuenberger (University of Basel, Switzerland -
The challenge of FDA's PAT initiative), Jim Jones (Massey
University, New Zealand - Where did the liquid go?),
Michael Hounslow (University of Sheffield, UK - Kinematics
in high shear granulation) and T. Charinpanitkul (Chulalongkorn
University, Thailand - Recent agglomeration technology
in Thailand). Other invited speakers were Y. Fukumori
(Kobe Gakuin University, Japan), W. Fromm (Glatt GmbH, Germany),
A.D. Salman (University of Sheffield, UK), W. Tanthapanichakoon
(National Nanotechnology Center, Thailand Science Park).
The 8th International Symposium on Agglomeration was organised
by The Industrial Pharmacists Group, PhAT, the Thai Powder
Technology Center, Thailand, and the National Metal and Materials
Technology Center. It was sponsored on this occasion by the
International Association for Pharmaceutical Technology, the
Swiss Society of Pharmaceutical Scientists, and Technology
Training Center, TTC. Attendance has continued to grow with
scientific participation representing over 12 different countries.
Overall, agglomeration modelling, population balance modelling,
and granule structure continue to be popular topics, in addition
to tabletting and compaction, particularly favoured by the
pharmaceutical industry. Work presented at this meeting focussed
primarily on high shear granulation, with fewer papers based
upon fluid bed, spray drying, roller compaction and extrusion/spheronisation
methods. The main technological developments presented at
the meeting were focussed on granule characterisation and
measurement techniques, such as the use of x-ray tomography
to look inside granules and determine their structure, both
qualitatively and quantitatively. This emphasises a shift
in thinking from treating the granulation process as a so-called
'black box' in days gone by to the more modern detailed approach,
where everything from droplet characterisation to powder morphology
and granule microstructure are important considerations. Another
area which is progressing is the use of DEM computer simulations
to predict and model granulation processes and granule behaviour.
On a more personal note, the International Symposium provided
me with my first attendance of a major conference in the field
of agglomeration. It was a very rewarding experience which
included braving the overly keen air conditioning to listen
to other researchers talk about their current research interests,
followed by discussions about respective issues over the vast
banquet lunches on offer throughout. The International Symposium
was also an opportunity for me to present some of my own work,
aimed at overcoming the trade-off between the strength and
dissolution rate of granules made by conventional granulation
methods. This was well received and provided me with an opportunity
to discuss my research with others and generate ideas about
how to progress further.
The International Symposium program helps to focus the attention
of researchers and industrial partners on current developments,
research activities and unresolved questions. The symposium
attempts to identify research needs and problems in current
agglomeration processes, and brings together researchers to
discuss novel approaches, results and future opportunities.
The International Symposium on Agglomeration returns in 2009
when the University of Sheffield in the UK will play host.
Mark your calendars now!
By Richardson Bursar Steven Craythorne
School of Chemistry, Queens University Belfast
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