* * * INSIGHT * * *

Can we really optimize a lyophilization or freeze-drying process?

by

Thomas A. Jennings, Ph.D.

This is certainly a very intriguing question. At first glance one would respond an affirmative answer of yes. In a sense, given the present technologies that are available in the industry,  I too would tend to feel the same way. The problem is that when new technologies do become available we are faced with a new set of problems. It is for that reason I thought I would share my thoughts with you on this question.

There is good reason for me to believe that a given lyophilization process, using the existing product container, may be decreased by perhaps a factor 1/20th. That would mean for example that a 100 hour primary drying process would be completed in just five hours. For a batch containing 100 liters of water, the energy efficiency of the process would increase from 5% to 10% to perhaps as high as 50%. So let me first of all share with you what my understanding is as to how optimization is currently being done in the industry. I will then introduce a new approach to optimizing the lyophilization process and  why I feel that such method of optimization is possible. Finally, I will then examine to see if this new approach to process optimization is possible today.

Vol. 4 No. 11                                                                               November 2001

4 Pages          3  References          1 Figures

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