Tailoring particle shape for enhancing the homogeneity of powder mixtures: Experimental study and DEM modelling

The effect of particle shape modification on the segregation reduction of enzyme granules in laundry detergent powder mixtures was investigated, both experimentally and computationally using Deseret Element Method (DEM). The shape of modified enzyme particles was in such a way that the large and dense enzyme particles were layered by other fine particles in the detergent powder, by means of a process known in the literature as “seeded granulation”. It is found that the homogeneity of modified enzyme particles could be improved significantly comparing to the original spherical enzyme particles in powder mixtures. Overall, the results of this research demonstrated that the segregation-induced properties of the dense/spherical enzyme particles could be lowered by altering their shape, which could enable the enzyme particles to behave almost similar to other ingredients during the pile formation process.