An apparatus for coating pharmaceutical particles such as drug dosage forms or pellets is provided which includes a drum assembly mounted for rotation about a cylindrical axis of the drum and which includes an outer drum section and an inner perforated drum section mounted concentrically on an interior of the outer drum section such that an annular chamber is formed between the perforated inner drum section and the outer drum section. Two or more baffle plates are attached between an outer surface of the inner perforated drum and an inner surface of the outer drum which are configured to act as baffles to restrain or regulate the flow of air which define two or more compartments depending on the number of baffle plates. One end of the drum assembly includes an end plate with a central aperture for use in loading pellets into the drum and provide access to coating constituents that are pumped into the drum interior during the coating process. An air distribution plate is attached at the other end of the drum and has air flow passageways and is interfaced with an air introduction plate having air inlet and outlet passageways. As the drum rotates the air flow passageways in the distribution plate alternately come into flow communication with the air inlet and outlet passageways in the air introduction plate thereby providing a flow path of air into the perforate inner drum and out of the drum assembly.

This disclosure provides a high solids biomass slurry that is readily pumpable and transportable to downstream processing units, such as chemical and/or biochemical processing units. The slurry is amenable to saccharification efficiencies of >70 % in processing times of <36 hours. Also provided are devices for processing materials, such as the high solids biomass slurry.

A hydration chamber for dry ingredients is disclosed. The chamber has a metered ingredients feed, a diverter that distributes the ingredients within the chamber, and a spray nozzle for hydrating the ingredients. The spray may be varied to achieve different levels of hydration, such as for the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients and the spray pressure can be varied.

The hydration apparatus includes an air augmentation feature that intersects the ingredients. The air augmentation inlet is positioned to cause turbulence in the ingredients prior to the ingredients passing a liquid discharge nozzle that hydrates them.

A mixing system and method. The mixing system includes a mixer configured to mix a dry component into a fluid to generate a slurry, one or more pumps coupled with the mixer and configured to deliver the fluid thereto, and a manifold system coupled to the mixer and the one or more pumps. The manifold system includes one or more valves configured to direct the slurry from the mixer. The mixing system is operable in a first mixing mode to mix a first type of the slurry, and the mixing system is operable in a second mixing mode to mix a second type of the slurry. The manifold system is configured to prevent inert mixing of the first and second types of the slurry.

The hydration apparatus includes an air augmentation feature that intersects the ingredients. The air augmentation inlet is positioned to cause turbulence in the ingredients prior to the ingredients passing a liquid discharge nozzle that hydrates them.

A mixing apparatus for mixing powder and liquid, includes: an apparatus main body having an internal space; a cylindrical member arranged in the internal space with one end facing upward and the other end facing downward, the one end and the other end being opened; a powder dispersing portion arranged above the apparatus main body, the powder dispersing portion dispersing the powder into a space of the cylindrical member; a liquid spraying portion arranged in a vicinity of the powder dispersing portion, the liquid spraying portion spraying the liquid into a space of the cylindrical member; a collection portion arranged below the apparatus main body, the collection portion collecting a mixed powder consisting of the powder dispersed by the powder dispersing portion and the liquid sprayed by the liquid spraying portion; a filter arranged around the cylindrical member in the internal space; and a discharge port discharging air in the internal space through the filter.

A mixing chamber for mixing a variety of dry ingredients with a liquid is disclosed. The mixing chamber has an accumulation chamber that evenly distributes ingredients as they pass a liquid spray nozzle, resulting in uniform hydration. The liquid may be sprayed at a variety of pressures to achieve varying levels of granule hydration to permit the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Even dry ingredients which are generally slow to absorb moisture may be rapidly and evenly hydrated without an excess of liquid. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients, can also be varied.

An atomizer mixing chamber for a seed treater has a body having first and second inlets for receiving first and second treatment fluids. The atomizer mixing chamber has a first stage cup for receiving and combining the first and second treatment fluids to provide a combined fluid, the first stage cup comprising a first set of holes through which the combined fluid flows. The atomizer also has a second stage cup below the first stage cup for receiving the combined fluid from the first stage cup, wherein the second stage cup further mixes the combined fluid to provide a mixed fluid and wherein the second stage cup comprises a second set of holes through which the mixed fluid flows. The atomizer mixing chamber may include a third stage cup below the second stage cup for receiving the mixed fluid and having a third set of holes through which the mixed fluid exits from the atomizer.

A mixing chamber for mixing a variety of dry ingredients with a liquid is disclosed. The mixing chamber has an accumulation chamber that evenly distributes ingredients as they pass a liquid spray nozzle, resulting in uniform hydration. The liquid may be sprayed at a variety of pressures to achieve varying levels of granule hydration to permit the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Even dry ingredients which are generally slow to absorb moisture may be rapidly and evenly hydrated without an excess of liquid. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients, can also be varied.