Real-time near-infrared monitoring of content uniformity, moisture content, compact density, tensile strength, and Young's modulus of roller compacted powder blends.

A method for real-time in-line near-infrared (NIR) monitoring of roller compaction is reported. Multivariate analysis using partial least square projections to latent structures (PLS) was used to relate the spectral data with key compact attributes: content uniformity, moisture content, relative density, tensile strength, and Young's modulus. NIR calibration curves were generated using the spectral data collected on simulated ribbons, that is, tablets prepared under uni-axial compression, and tested on the data collected on another set of simulated ribbons and by monitoring the ribbons as they exited the roller compactor. For all compact attributes, the NIR predicted values agreed well with the values measured using a reference method. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.