Ametek Demonstrates TDLAS Advances For Pharmaceutical Makers

TDLAS can provide the advantages of continuous process control of pharmaceutical drying to manufacturers using water as their primary solvent.

Ametek Process Instruments successfully demonstrates that tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) can provide the advantages of continuous process control of pharmaceutical drying to manufacturers using water as their primary solvent, according to the company. Pharmaceutical makers who have moved to aqueous-based processing can now use TDLAS technology to determine dryer end-point. The continuous real-time monitoring can reportedly pinpoint when a product has dried as much as possible. This determination is then confirmed by LOD analysis, eliminating numerous stops and re-starts of the drying process.

Working with a pharmaceutical manufacturer, Ametek Process Instruments set up a production trial using its Model 5100 HD analyzer to monitor the batch production of a widely prescribed medication whose synthesis involves the use of water as the final rinse agent. The trial demonstrated that TDLAS techniques could be used to continuously monitor and control the solvent drying process online, in real time, without operator intervention or process interruption, according to the company.

The Model 5100 analyzer uses TDLAS technology in a variety of configurations, including single- and dual-laser platforms with one or two sample cells for measuring different process components simultaneously. It can provide on-line, real-time process control of moisture over a wide range of levels down to 4 parts per million, or 2%, of the reading, whichever is greater, based on the moisture level requirements of a drying chamber, according to Ametek.

 For more information, visit: www.ametek.com