Fermion uses industrial crystallization processes as well as different milling techniques (air-jet milling with classifier, fine impact milling) on a continuous basis. In commercial production cooling/evaporation/antisolvent/reactive crystallizations and pH precipitations are routinely used. Additionally, lab-scale crystallizations with other technologies (e.g. ultrasound, wet-milling and spray-drying) have been extensively studied.

Polymorph screening, particle design and characterization are commonly practised at Fermion. Crystal size, habit, flowability, surface properties, crystallinity, polymorphism/pseudopolymorphism can be characterized for particles. Laser diffraction, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, XRPD, DSC, TGA, DVS and 3-point nitrogen adsorption are the main analytical techniques in particle characterization.

Research partners in the field of crystallization have been Lappeenranta University of Technology (Department of Chemical Technology), Helsinki University (Division of Pharmaceutical Technology) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology (School of Chemical Science and Engineering) in Stockholm.

Mixing conditions at lab/production scale crystallizers

Different crystal and particle habits

Effect of crystal habit on flowability