Doehlert Design for Wet Pelletization in High Shear Mixer

optimization of pelletization process using Doehlert design

Three factors interfere in the determination of pellet mean size. These are the impeller speed, the binding solution and the pelletization time. We use experimental design (Doehlert design) to predict pellet mean size versus the three factors. We determine the quadratic model by multi-linear regression of the mean particle size. In addition, contour plots of the mean size versus impeller speed and the pelletization time for different binding solutions are given in the notebook. This problem was presented in the excellent book by Lewis G. A., D. Mathieu and R. Phan-Than-Luu, Pharmaceutical Experimental Design, Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol 92, 1999, Marcel Dekker, New York. All results and contour plots found in this notebook are in agreement with Lewis et al. A Mathematica notebook containing the solution of this problem can be found at: http://library.wolfram.com/infocenter/MathSource/6385/