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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Packing Sourcer
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Freeze-Drying or Lyophilisation
The term freeze-drying refers to a process whereby a product is frozen and then dried. Lyophilisation literally means solvent-loving, which is one of the principle features of the process. These two words describe the same stabilising process in which a substance is first frozen and then the quantity of the solvent is reduced, first by sublimation (primary drying) and then by desorption (secondary drying), to values that no longer support biological growth or chemicals reaction. During the sublimation the ice passes to a vapour, which is then removed under high vacuum.
Two Critical Steps
Freezing
The process requires the product to be frozen so the original liquid sample is converted to ice. It is important to note that frequently the method of freezing and the structure developed will determine the ease of the drying.
Drying
This part of the process is critical in order to ensure that the product does not melt or collapse. The energy transfer during sublimation is one of balance; where the mass of product remains frozen and sufficient heat is used to provide for the change of state.
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