Feb 9 2007
Bayer Technology Services GmbH (BTS) is premiering it’s latest offerings in the fields of nanotechnology, microprocess technology and process analysis technology (PAT) at POWTECH, the leading European trade show for mechanical process technology and particle analysis, in Nuremberg (Hall 10, Stand 429) from March 27 - 29, 2007. Nanophosphors for medical diagnostics and nanoparticles for antimicrobial coatings are the focal points in the field of nanotechnology. Microfiltration with no covering layer, which can increase specific filtration performance by two orders of magnitude, is now possible for the first time thanks to an innovative filtration process. The PAT highlight is a new measuring system for the in-process control of the active substance content of tablets.
Nanotechnology in the service of health
Nanophosphors with a uniform size of seven millionths of a millimeter have been developed in a wide range of emission spectra for use in medical diagnostics. The extremely high crystallinity of the nanoparticles coated with various rare earths enabling detection limits of only one femtomole, while the spectrum of different colors enables parallel diagnostics using different assays. As a result, multiple diagnostic targets can be analyzed at the same time with extremely high precision. Medical technology is one of several areas where the innovative silver nanoparticles can be used for antimicrobial coatings. Their size distribution has been optimize to constantly release silver ions of the specially formulated coating to ensure antimicrobial protection over the longest possible period. The scientific basis for the use of nanophosphors in diagnostic applications and nanoparticles in antimicrobial coatings will be presented at the PARTEC (particle technology) congress concurrent with POWTECH (lectures 36441 and 36443).
Wafer technology opens up new opportunities in microfiltration
Microfiltration with no covering layer, which can increase specific filtration performance by two orders of magnitude, is now possible for the first time thanks to a novel microfiltration process introduced by BTS. The efficiency and performance of the innovative technology is most clearly demonstrated with biological substance systems, such as the filtration of brewer’s yeast without the use of diatomaceous earth or the filtration of dyestuffs and pigments. Low transmembrane pressures of max. 200 mbar enable gentle filtration. The precise pore diameters and large open screen area allows the removal of the smallest of particles and the application as classifying filtration.
Because of the high specific permeate flow, the microsieve systems are small and compact. They are also modular and can be expanded at any time.
The heart of the system are the microsieves produced by fluXXion B.V. of Eindhoven, Netherlands, as an adaptation of the wafers manufactured in the semiconductor industry. The are made up of silicon nitride, have a low flow resistance, high thermal and chemical stability and an extremely narrow pore distribution. A high-frequency backpulse results in crossflow filtration with almost no covering layer and permeate flows up to two powers of ten greater than can be achieved with conventional membrane filtration processes. The microsieves have pore diameters between 0.35 and
8 µm with a free screen area of up to 30 percent.
The available laboratory and pilot-scale systems cover the entire spectrum for the scale-up of systems. The laboratory system has a filter surface area of 4 cm²; the pilot-scale system is modular and can be equipped with filter surface areas from 110 - 330 cm².
Online quality control during tablet production
In the area of tablet production quality control, BTS and IMA Kilian GmbH, Cologne, Germany now offer the RQ 100-4 NIR, a new integrated system for the in-process determination of mass, active substance concentration, moisture, thickness, diameter, density and hardness of tablets. The system is non-invasive and without the hardness test also non-destructive. It provides enhanced statistics for quality control and directly indicates formulation changes. This online analysis, implemented as PAT, is the basis for process control in pharmaceutical solids production plants.
The integrated RQ 100-4 NIR system comprises the SpectroBAY® process NIR spectrometer from BTS and the proven RQ 100 tablet quality control center from IMA Kilian.