Selecting the right mill can impact product performance, energy consumption, and the ease of scale-up, cleaning, and operation.
A good understanding of basic micronization techniques can help product developers select the most appropriate mill for development and eventual scale-up. The most commonly available options include different methods of jet milling, as well as various media (ball) mills, which may run either wet or dry. While these different milling processes can all generate particles in the desired range for inhalation, they can produce significant differences in morphology and particle size distribution, potentially affecting product performance, which makes proper mill selection important from the start. In addition, ease of cleaning and economics of operation may enter into the selection of a micronizing mill.