A compact freeze dryer removes a liquid from a bulk powder product. The freeze dryer utilizes a single cryogenic vessel for both (1) freezing the liquid contained in the bulk product, and (2) condensing vapor resulting from sublimating the frozen liquid. A vacuum pump is connected to the cryogenic vessel for drawing a vacuum in the cryogenic vessel and in a drying vessel. Vapor resulting from subliming the frozen liquid in the drying vessel is drawn into the cryogenic vessel and condensed.

The present invention provides, inter alia, for a liquid feeding device for the generation of droplets, in particular for the use in a process line for the production of freeze-dried particles, with a droplet ejection section for ejecting liquid droplets in an ejection direction, the droplet ejection section comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a liquid to be ejected, a liquid chamber for retaining the liquid, and a nozzle for ejecting the liquid from the liquid chamber to form droplets, wherein the liquid chamber is restricted by a membrane on one side thereof, the membrane being vibratable by an excitation unit, wherein the longitudinal axis of the liquid chamber is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, and/or the liquid feeding device further comprises a deflection section for separating the droplets from each other by means of at least one gas jet, wherein the deflection section gas jet intersects perpendicular with an ejection path of the liquid ejected from the liquid chamber.

Provided are a vacuum freeze-drying apparatus and a method capable of continuously performing vacuum freeze-drying in a short time. A vacuum freeze-drying apparatus 1 of this invention having an exhaust path for performing vacuum suction, while a drying device 3 comprises a tubular member 31 provided an inlet portion and an outlet portion formed of a tubular shape, a temperature adjusting means 30a to 30j provided in a plurality of regions formed from the inlet portion toward the outlet portion in a peripheral portion of the tubular member 31 wherein the plurality of regions are at least three or more regions whose temperature is capable of being controlled, for adjusting temperatures of a plurality of regions 40a to 40j in outer surface of the tubular member, a temperature control unit 8 for independently controlling the temperature adjusting means, and a rotating portion 7 for rotating the tubular member 31, wherein the tubular member 31 has a spiral transfer means 31a continuously provided adjacent to an inner wall of the tubular member from the inlet portion toward the outlet portion, and the transfer means 31a transfers the frozen substance sequentially to locations corresponding to the plurality of regions in the tubular member so as to continuously sublimate and dry.

Provided are a vacuum freeze-drying apparatus and a method capable of continuously performing vacuum freeze-drying in a short time. A vacuum freeze-drying apparatus 1 of this invention having an exhaust path for performing vacuum suction, while a drying device 3 comprises a tubular member 31 provided an inlet portion and an outlet portion formed of a tubular shape, a temperature adjusting means 30a to 30j provided in a plurality of regions formed from the inlet portion toward the outlet portion in a peripheral portion of the tubular member 31 wherein the plurality of regions are at least three or more regions whose temperature is capable of being controlled, for adjusting temperatures of a plurality of regions 40a to 40j in outer surface of the tubular member, a temperature control unit 8 for independently controlling the temperature adjusting means, and a rotating portion 7 for rotating the tubular member 31, wherein the tubular member 31 has a spiral transfer means 31a continuously provided adjacent to an inner wall of the tubular member from the inlet portion toward the outlet portion, and the transfer means 31a transfers the frozen substance sequentially to locations corresponding to the plurality of regions in the tubular member so as to continuously sublimate and dry.

[Object] To freeze droplets of a raw material liquid in a shorter drop distance while maintaining a cooling velocity, which is a super high speed, without deteriorating a solute or dispersoid.

[Solving Means] A vacuum freeze-drying method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a vacuum freeze-drying method that includes steps of injecting a raw material liquid from an injection nozzle inside a vacuum chamber, generating frozen particles by self-freezing of the raw material liquid, and drying the generated frozen particles to thereby produce a dry powder, including: injecting the raw material liquid from the injection nozzle in a state in which the vacuum chamber is maintained at water vapor partial pressure corresponding to a self-freezing temperature of the raw material liquid, such that an injection initial velocity of the raw material liquid from the injection nozzle is 6 m/s or more and 33 m/s or less; and adjusting, when the maximum diameter of the generated frozen particle exceeds a predetermined value or droplets of the raw material liquid are unfrozen, an injection flow rate of the raw material liquid from the injection nozzle or properties of the injection nozzle such that frozen particles having a maximum diameter equal to or smaller than the predetermined value are generated.

The present disclosure relates to a process for reducing particle agglomeration and/or increasing porosity of agglomerated particles, a method for enhancing dispersion of nanoparticles in a polymer matrix, and thermoplastic or thermoset nanocomposites comprising nanoparticles.

The present invention provides, inter alia, for a liquid feeding device for the generation of droplets, in particular for the use in a process line for the production of freeze-dried particles, with a droplet ejection section for ejecting liquid droplets in an ejection direction, the droplet ejection section comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a liquid to be ejected, a liquid chamber for retaining the liquid, and a nozzle for ejecting the liquid from the liquid chamber to form droplets, wherein the liquid chamber is restricted by a membrane on one side thereof, the membrane being vibratable by an excitation unit, wherein the longitudinal axis of the liquid chamber is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, and/or the liquid feeding device further comprises a deflection section for separating the droplets from each other by means of at least one gas jet, wherein the deflection section gas jet intersects perpendicular with an ejection path of the liquid ejected from the liquid chamber.

A method of treatment of plasma with a physiologically compatible spray dry stable acidic substance (SDSAS) prior to or contemporaneously with spray drying of the plasma that results in greater recovery and greater long-term stabilization of the dried plasma proteins as compared to spray dried plasma that has not be subject to the formulation method of the present invention, as well as compostions related to plasma dried by the methods of the present invention.

A technology for protecting a valve seat inside a collection tank from the adherence of frozen particles in a vacuum freeze-drying apparatus and a frozen particle manufacturing method. The inside of a vacuum tank and a collection tank are vacuum evacuated; a raw material liquid is injected into the vacuum tank to produce frozen particles; and the frozen particles are piled up on a surface of a heating/cooling shelf. When the frozen particles on the heating/cooling shelf are transferred into the collection tank through the inside of an auxiliary pipe, the frozen particles do not adhere to a valve seat which surrounds an opening of a main pipe inside the collection tank.

A freeze drying system (200) having a nozzle (30) operated at a setpoint pressure to generate fluid product drops (242) for freezing in a freezing chamber (244) of a freezing vessel (228). The freezing chamber includes an inner wall (250) that defines a cavity (254) and an outer wall (252) having an inlet (260) that extends from a location on the outer wall that is lower than an outlet (262). A cooling fluid flows through the inlet, cavity and outlet to form a freezing zone (280). A drying chamber (304) having sloped shelves (352) receives frozen particles (282) from the freezing chamber. A heating element (418) is associated with each shelf that heats the frozen particles to promote sublimation. Vibration elements (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber vibrate the shelves causing the frozen particles to move from shelf to shelf to form freeze dried product (284).