FREEZE DRYING OF TARGET SUBSTANCES

摘要

In a process for freeze drying a target substance, the target substance is carried by a carrier, which is passed into a freeze chamber to reduce the temperature of the target substance, and then on to a dryer chamber. Vacuum/reduced pressure is applied during the process, during a final portion of the freeze process when the target substance and carrier are present in the freeze chamber; and/or when the target substance and carrier are transferred from the freeze chamber to the dryer chamber. Vacuum/reduced pressure is also applied when the target substance and carrier are present in the dryer chamber. The process enables the freezing process to commence at temperatures close to the collapse temperature of the target substance and to maintain that temperature while compensating for evaporative cooling, thus giving the fastest and most efficient freeze drying cycle, resulting in a slower cooling rate producing structures that are optimal for use.