(660f) A Method to Extract 2D Psd from FBRM Data

The number of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) crystallizing as elongated crystals has been steadily increasing in recent years (Derdour¹). This trend created the need for reliable on line 2D PSD measurement tools. Experimental tools utilized to determine Particle Size Distribution in two main characteristic sizes are typically restricted to off-line methods such as microscopy and off-line imaging. These methods present the risk of not being fully representative of the slurry and because they rely on sampling, they afford low experimental statistical data, which can be detrimental to the reliability of the measurement. In this study, we present a simple method to extract 2D PSD from in situ Focused Beam Reflectance Measurements (FBRM). The method of converting FBRM data from 1D CLD into 2D CLD populations is described. The approach utilizes off-line PLM image analysis to establish a correlation PSD/CLD. The 2 D PSD extracted from FBRM data is fed into a parameter estimation algorithm to determine 2D growth rates for an API that crystallizes as acicular crystals.

1. Derdour L., Chem. Eng. Technol., 44(3), 488–494, 2021