This processing option is the eldest known industrial pelletizing technique. First all ingredients are blended, then by adding liquid a wet dough is formed, which is passed through an extruder with defined sizes. If a thick-wall extruder (approx. 4 mm) is used and the ratio liquid/solids is well adjusted the extrudates break up into 1mm particles during the beginning of spheroidizing, warranting a high yield of homogenously sized pellets. However, minimum particle size is limited to about 0.5mm. Despite a high reproducibility this is a somewhat tedious process as it involves many process steps, i.e. dry blending, wet massing, extrusion, spheroidizing, drying and involves different equipment with a large total product contacting surface. The uniform particle size allow for an equally uniform subsequent functional coating. In many pharmaceutical applications the uniform particle size is often only achieved if the formulation includes 20-50 per cent of microcrystalline cellulose.

In the pharmaceutical industries the particle size usually ranges in between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, in the food and feed industries size can however rise to several centimeters.

Product features
• Dust free
• High spherocity
• Free flowing
• Compact structure
• Low hygroscopicity
• High bulk density
• Low abrasion
• Narrow particle size distribution
• Smooth surface

Equipment Model:
JW EXTRUDE-SPHEROIDIZING PELLETS SYSTEM (Small batch Pilot Model)
XL ROTATING GRANULATOR →QZL PELLETIZER(Big batch Production)

If the pellet diameter is less than 0.7-0.5mm, it used High Shear Mixer Granulator(GHL HIGH SPEED MIXING GRANULATOR)