Freeze Drying

Sanjana Bhattacharyya
Chemical Engineering
B. Tech. 3rd Year
Roll: 115537

INTRODUCTION
Technique to dry materials better than
conventional methods
Removes up to 99% of moisture
Used extensively in food, pharmaceutical
and chemical industries
Technique developed during WWII to
transport serum

BASIC PRINCIPLE

Water frozen below 0C

Reheated at pressure below 0.6 atm
Direct sublimation occurs

MECHANISM OF FREEZE DRYING-I

Consists of 4 parts:
1. Pretreatment
2. Freezing

Sub-cooling
Ice nucleation
Crystallization

MECHANISM OF FREEZE DRYING-II

3.

Primary drying
o
o
o

Ice crystals sublimate, ice front moves

back
7-8% moisture remains
Partial vacuum maintained

MECHANISM OF FREEZE
DRYING-III

Secondary drying

4.

Bound moisture removed by desorption

2-1.5% moisture remains

WORKING OF A FREEZE
DRYER

APPLICATIONS: FOOD INDUSTRY-I

Arose in late 1970s

due to economic
crisis
Popularized by
freeze-dried ice
cream
Light and convenient
as emergency food
supply
Freeze-dried fruits
sold as popular
snacks
Healthier alternative
of processed pet food

APPLICATIONS: FOOD INDUSTRY-II

Fresh look and

flavours
remain intact
Nutrients are
frozen intact
Shelf life 25+
years
No additives
Easier to
rehydrate
because of tiny
pores

APPLICATIONS: PHARMACEUTICALSI
Shelf life of life saving medicines increased
Heat sensitive drugs and biologics can be
destroyed on drying at high temperature
Freeze dried products can be restored quickly
and easily in emergencies
Used in vaccines, antibodies, penicillin,
enzymes, hormones etc.
Freeze dried blood has great potential

OTHER APPLICATIONS
Used in restoring paper based documents
damaged by water
Water logged artifacts can be recovered for
museums
Used in taxidermy for pets and hunting
trophies
Used to preserve flowers and petals for
decorations

POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS
Can be made more time and energy
efficient
Can be economized for commercial uses
Development of better anti-freeze materials
will reduce mechanical injury to cell
Better stability can be provided in final
product, especially biologics

CONCLUSION

THANK
YOU!