Ultrasound‐Assisted Slug‐Flow Tubular Crystallization for Preparation of Fine Ibuprofen Crystals

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 45; no. 4; pp. 727 - 736
• Main Authors: Yuan, Mingpu, Wang, Jingkang, Huang, Xin, Wang, Ting, Wang, Na, Zhou, Lina, Hao, Hongxun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frankfurt Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Continuous crystallization; Crystallization; Crystals; Flow distribution; Ibuprofen; Ibuprofen crystals; Micromixing; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Nucleation; Particle size; Particle size distribution; Slug flow; Slug‐flow crystallization; Supersaturation; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.202100574

Ibuprofen fine crystals prepared by commonly used methods have some problems such as low‐crystallinity product and uneven distributed particle size. An ultrasonic‐assisted tubular crystallization system was developed. The effects of tubular crystallization temperature, supersaturation, residence time, surfactant, and flow pattern on the crystal size distribution and average particle size were studied. It was found that ultrasound promotes nucleation and reduces crystal aggregation. Ibuprofen crystals with an average particle size of 6.23 μm were formed owing to the high degree of continuous supersaturation and promoted micromixing. Finally, a possible mechanism of enhancement of micromixing under ultrasonic and slug flow on tubular crystallization was proposed. To solve the deficiencies of conventional fine ibuprofen preparation methods, an ultrasonic‐assisted tubular crystallization system was developed to prepare ibuprofen crystals with an average particle size of 6.23 μm and narrow particle size distribution. A possible mechanism of enhancement of micromixing under ultrasonic and slug flow on tubular crystallization was proposed.