INSIGHT - Comments
Vol. 4 No. 6 - The Pressure of Secondary Drying
In the last INSIGHT, “The Pressure of Secondary drying”, Thomas A. Jennings Ph.D. presented a scientific and comprehensive analyze of the pressure influence on the secondary drying stage. Constantly, with generosity, Thomas A. Jennings offers to all of us, interested in freeze-drying (Lyophilization), scientific explanations to the various aspects involved in such a complex process.
Understanding and quantifying of the mechanisms that govern the lyophilization process are strong tools, which allows predicting the final required product characteristics and controlling the product quality. The basic parameters involved in the secondary drying were presented in the INSIGHT. To those, I would like to add the freezing step influence on the drying. This is connected with the morphology and ice crystal distribution, shape and pore connectivity, which all limits or enhance internal mass and heat transfer during primary and secondary drying.
Process improvements can be obtained if an accurate interpretation of phenomena involved is available. The chemical engineering research can give an important contribution to the freeze-drying process by studying kinetics, mass and heat transfer.
Ana Bacaoanu Ph.D.
Chemical Engineering Department
Technical “Gh. Asachi” University of Iasi, Romania
E-mail: abacaoan@ch.tuiasi.ro
Repose by T. A. Jennings
This novice in the field of lyophilization would like to thank Professor Bacaoanu: for her kind words. I would also like to thank her for pointing out that other factors such as the morphology and ice crystal distribution, shape and pore connectivity also are important factors to be considered.
It should be known by all that Professor Bacaoanu has been most unselfish with her time and efforts in promoting the science of lyophilization by contributing papers that are published here and in other scientific publications.
