The development of a microwave fluid-bed processor. I. Construction and qualification of a prototype laboratory unit.

The static bed- and planetary-type microwave dryers currently available to process pharmaceutical materials are not designed to use hot-air fluidization for the purpose of maximizing microwave energy inputs and particle drying. To take advantage of the benefits offered by fluidization, a 1-kg Uni-Gatt laboratory fluid bed processor was modified to support microwave-assisted fluid bed drying of several representative pharmaceutical granulations. The construction, design features, and validation of this new microwave fluid bed processor are presented.