AMETEK Process Instruments has successfully demonstrated that tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) can provide the advantages of continuous process control of pharmaceutical drying to manufacturers using water as their primary solvent. Working with a pharmaceutical manufacturer, AMETEK Process Instruments set up a production trial using its Model 5100 HD analyzer to monitor the batch production of a widely prescribed medication whose synthesis involves the use of water as the final rinse agent.
The trial demonstrated that TDLAS techniques could be used to continuously monitor and control the solvent drying process online, in real time, without operator intervention or process interruption.
The results further indicated that TDLAS has the potential to significantly reduce drying times, while improving both production and product quality for pharmaceutical manufacturers and other bulk powder producers who rely on water as the principal solvent in their processes. Because TDLAS is a non-contact technique, it offers fast response speeds, which can mean substantial savings in both time and cost.
