Coating
Advantages of coated products produced in Ammag fluidized bed plants
a) Modification of particle features
Coating will change especially the surface of particles by applying a coat of another material. The targets of such a treatment may be, among others (1.) to change solubility, to release ingredients only under defined conditions (e.g. temperature, ph-value), (2.) protection from an aggressive environment (e.g. pills in gastric acid) or (3.) coloration.
Depending on the application, the coating agents chosen are either water-soluble or water-insoluble substances. The first ones are usually filmogenic substances such as maltodextrin, gelatin or shellac. The latter are hydrophobic substances that are mostly applied as molten mass.
b) Charging particles evenly with a product (spraying)
Charging is effected according to the same principle as coating. The objective, however, is not to change the properties of particles (such as protecting them from ambient conditions), but to mix “incompatible” substances evenly. One typical example is the application of vitamins on a carrier substance. Fluidized bed technology is a good approach, as the vitamins can be dissolved or suspended in water. By atomizing and extensive mixing the required homogeneity is achieved. Simultaneously, the water used as a medium is evaporated immediately.
Legend:
Coating-Tropfen - coating droplet
Benetzen - wetting
Gecoated - coated
Partikel - particle
Verfestigen - solidifying
Examples/solutions
|
Detergent industry - for example: sodium percarbonate
Modern detergents contain sodium percarbonate as bleaching agent, because it is very efficient while being eco-friendly. However, this product is not resistant to storage under normal ambient conditions.
Coating will stabilize the product. In this process a throughput of 3 tons per hour is achieved in a plant.
(Click to enlarge image) |
|
Feed industry - for example: probiotic feed additive
Probiotics have a positive physiological effect, not only on human beings. However, when developing probiotic feed additives care must be taken that the product is not only effective, but also easy to apply. Therefore, dried forms resistant to storage are requested.
Fluidized bed technology makes it possible to meet these requirements. On the one hand, the bacteria can be dried gently and under strict temperature control at 37°C at most. In a second step the dried bacteria are coated to protect them from environmental impact. This product is suitable to be mixed into concentrated feed and will even survive pressing.
(Click to enlarge image)
|
|
Food industry - for example: cornflakes
If granola shall be enriched with vitamins, we are faced with the task to evenly mix the vitamins available as fine powder among the coarse-grained granola components. This is possible only by way of fluidized bed technology, by charging the granola with vitamins (link to principle):
(Click to enlarge image) |
[back]
|
|
