LIF or dye: Comparison of different tracing methods for granular solids

Determination of residence time distribution is considered essential for continuous pharmaceutical unit operations, in order to enable process understanding and control. A common way for determining residence times are tracer based methods, yet at the moment most realizations are found in liquid systems whereas use of those methods on granular samples is rarely encountered.

Here, we compare two different methods for applying and detecting tracers in granular material processed in a pharmaceutical capsule-filling unit. As first method, a simple colorimetric procedure, i.e. using a dye and a camera as photometer is used. As second method, light induced fluorescence, i.e. using a fluorescent tracer material, a stimulating source and the camera as photometer again, is used.

Both methods are tested and compared for their performance and appeared to be sufficient for the use in residence time distribution determination, yet none of the two proved to be superior. Consequently, side issues rather than analytic performance determined the final preference for the colorimetric method.