Fluid dynamics and coating of sodium bicarbonate in a vibrofluidized bed

In this work the fluid dynamics and polymeric coating of sodium bicarbonate were investigated. Fluid dynamic analysis was performed for the sodium bicarbonate in conventional and vibrofluidized beds. The coating process in the vibrofluidized bed was evaluated for different conditions of air temperature, amplitude and frequency of vibration. Loads of 450 g of sodium bicarbonate were fed to the bed and the process parameters were varied as follows: vibration amplitude and frequency up to 0.02 m and 360 rpm, respectively and air temperature from 60 °C to 80 °C. The sodium bicarbonate was evaluated before and after coating by relative particle growth, angle of repose and volume of carbon dioxide release. The results pointed to the viability of the vibrofluidized bed for polymer film coating of sodium bicarbonate.