Accentus launches ultrasound technology

As almost all processes utilise at least one crystallisation step, astute control of the process is paramount in reducing unit costs per kg, maximising product purity and controlling crystal size.

Accentus, a company spun out of the UK atomic energy authority and based in Abingdon, near Oxford in the UK, has developed C3 technology, which uses power ultrasound technology to control the production of high purity organic and inorganic microcrystalline particles, be they intermediates, excipients, APIs or binders.

The technology can be used on in-line continuous flow systems, or with batch modes for the in-situ generation of seed crystals using the process mixture itself as the source of the seeds. This reduces the chances of contamination, because usually seeding comes from an externally added particle, which may cause contamination.

The key to the patented technology is the method of delivery of the power ultrasound. Unlike any other ultrasonic system there is no direct contact between the ultrasonic power source and process fluid. This eliminates probe wear, hot spotting and blockages.

The ultrasonic sources are mounted in circular arrays around the outside of a cylindrical cell wall, which has a specialist construction to ensure that microcavitation events occur solely in the process fluid and not at the vessel wall.

The arrays are independently controlled, can be tuned to the optimum crystal size, and can operate in pulsed or continuous mode. Often the product produced is already within a tight specification and the need for extra milling or micronisation is eliminated.