TABLET:

Tablets are solid dosage forms containing one or more active ingredients. They are obtained by single or multiple compression (in certain cases they are molded) and may be uncoated or coated. They are usually intended for oral administration, but preparations for alternative applications, such as implants, solution-tablets for injections, irrigations, or for external use, etc. These preparations may require a special formulation, method of manufacture, or form of presentation, appropriate to their particular use. Tablet section is divided into following sections: Granulation room 1. Drying room 2. Mixing room Compression room Coating room Encapsulation 1. Blistering by (CAM CARTONER MACHINE) 2. Stripping Packaging room a) Printing and stamping area STEPS OF PREPRATION OF TABLETS: There are following step done during preparation of tablet. Dispensed Material of the batch received from warehouse according to BMO. Line clearance by QAI Mixing Granulation (wet/dry) Drying (if required) Send in (QA/IPC) lab for the determination of LOD (loss of drying) Compression Checking of size, weight, hardness ,physical appearance etc. during compression Coating section Sample send to QC for testing If approved then proceed Packing of Tablets. In MACTER I observed the production of GELUSIL tablet.
GRANULATION:

DRY GRANULATION: It includes Milling and mixing of API and excipients Compression in to slugs Milling and screening of slugs and compacted powder WET GRANULATION: Wet granulation is a process of using a liquid binder to lightly agglomerate the powder mixture.
IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GRANULES:

The ideal characteristics of granules include uniformity, good flow, and compactibility. These are usually accomplished through creation of increased density, spherical shape, narrow particle size distribution with sufficient fines to fill void spaces between granules, adequate moisture (between 12%), and incorporation of binder, if necessary. It is done in oscillating type granulator with following parameters: Mixer speed: 160rpm Chopper speed: 1440
MIXING:

It is usually done by double cone mixer at the speed of 8-15 rpm

DRYING:

It is done in fluidized bed dryer with following parameters: LOD limit: 1.0-3.0% Temperature: 66oC Total time: 1 hr.
COMPRESSION:

The actual compression process is a cycle of die fill, compaction by intervention of the upper punch with great pressure upon the granulation powder in the die and upward movement of both punches to achieve ejection of the tablet from die. The machines used are: 1. Single Punch Compression Machine: used when a small batch is manufactured. 2. Rotary Type Compression Machine: used when large amount of tablets are to be compressed. The main components of a tablet compression machine are the dies, which hold a measured volume of material to be compressed, the upper punches, which exert pressure on the down stroke, the lower punches, which control the volume of the die and thus the tablet weight. The lower punches move upward after compaction to eject the tablets from dies. Compression on GELUSIL Tablets:

Batch size: 200,000 tablets Dia of tab: 16.0 mm Thickness of tab : 0.4mm Hardness limit: 7-11 KP Humidity: 50% Actual Humidity : 40% Shape: Flat beveled edge Speed of compression machine:24 rpm Color of tablet: White to off white

COATING OF TABLETS:
OBJECTIVE:

Protect the dosage from moisture and prevent the cell life Masking the batch differences To control the releasing of drug Facilitating the rapid identification

TYPES OF COATING:

Methods used for tablet coating are as follows, Sugar coating. Film coating. Enteric coating.(Polymer coating)
STEPS OF COATING: Preparation of coating solution (cooking is done with DI water)

Loading of weighed tablets Warming Spraying (application and rolling are carried out simultaneously) Coating Drying Qc Testing Cooling Polishing First we warm the tablets until the exhaust temperature is 49-580C. The coating material such as PVP OR CMC or other high polymers are dissolved in a volatile solvent and sprayed with the help of guns to the tablet rotating in a coating pan .the samples are sent to check the proper coating and amount of the coating material applied to the tablet after assuring no problem a released slip is tagged and send back to the department. After coating the tablets are then send for polishing which is done in a polishing pan lined internally with a canvas cloth to prevent the slipping of tablet. The polishing materials are usually Bees wax Polyethylene glycol Later the coated and polished tablet are weighed and stored in polyethylene bags. Sugar Coating on GELUSIL: Temperature: 71 oC Speed of pan: 26 rpm Time: 2-3 days Temperature of blower and exhaust: 120oC, 98 oC respectively The weighed amount of tablets is placed in coating pan and adjusts the above parameters. Blower is then provided to blow compresses air so solution can be applied easily and moisture is removed and an exhaust pipe is also there to remove the compressed air and also to maintain the temperature of pan. PACKAGING OF TABLETS:
1. BLISTER /CAM CARTONER:

Blistering of tablets have been done, blistering, labeling, embossing of manufacturing date expiry date and batch number ,and packaging of tablet in unit carton have been done in CAM
CARTONER MACHINE. 2. IN STRIP PACKING: The unit drugs are sealed in between strips of aluminum foil named as (ALU-ALU).both sides of the packaging are colored.

3. IN BLISTER PACKING: The unit dosage forms are enclosed in between transparent blisters and suitable material, generally aluminum foil with the help of packing machines. Only side of packaging is colored.
IN BOTTLE PACKS: The number of tablets (10 or 20) is filled in bottles and the cap of the bottle is tightened with the help of machines

Blister of GELUSIL: Punching is done on plastic/PVC Temperature: 138 oC Sealing temperature: 160 oC Speed: 25 rpm actual

PRINTING AND STAMPING AREA: Printing of manufacturing date, batch number, and expiry date through ink jet printer. Complications that might occur during tablet manufacturing: Following are the problems that may occur during the manufacturing: Improper color mixing Improper granulation (wet/dry) and drying Mottling problem may occur during coating