Spray system characterization for evaluating particle size enlargement in fluidized bed agglomeration

Abstract

Droplet size is a crucial success factor for increased particle size in the agglomeration process. Thus, this work aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties of maltodextrin solutions used as the binder, their influence on the size of the formed droplets, and their relationship to particle growth. The primary CMC particles had an average size of 295.5 ± 10.0 µm, and at the end of the process, the agglomerates reached chord lengths ranging from 336.5 ± 10.6 µm to 378.3 ± 8.6 µm. Three maltodextrin solutions (5.0%, 20.0%, and 35.0% w/w) were characterized for that in terms of physicochemical properties and droplet size, and following that, the binder concentrations, binder flow rate, and atomizing air pressure were evaluated. The binder liquid concentration is the most outstanding parameter for the agglomeration process regarding particle growth under experimental conditions.

Keywords:

• Droplet size
• phase doppler interferometry
• maltodextrin
• particle growth

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Laboratory of Environmental and Thermal Engineering, Polytechnic School, at the University of São Paulo, and the Laboratory of Process Engineering, School of Food Engineering, at the University of Campinas for the access granted to equipment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001, and by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – Brasil (CNPq) – process number 169208/2018–4.