* * * INSIGHT * * *

Role of the Phase Diagram of Water in Primary Drying

By

Thomas A. Jennings, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT: The phase diagram of water plays a key role in the primary drying process and  one must take it into consideration when developing a lyophilization process. The phase diagram of water is a graphic representation of the properties of water in terms of two intensive variables, i.e., pressure and temperature. While certainly simple in nature, it has been my experience that it is often found to be difficult to understand let alone apply it to the primary drying process.

The first part of this INSIGHT will consider the phase diagram of water with the intent to assist those who may have experienced trouble understanding the diagram. In an effort to simplify the explanation I shall use Gibb’s Phase Rule. The second part of the INSIGHT will consider how one would apply the phase diagram to the primary drying phase of a drying process.

Volume 3  Number. 12                                                                                  December 2000

4 Pages          No  References          1 Figure

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