Gránulos

Gránulos is a term derived from Latin meaning "small grains." In various scientific and technical contexts, it refers to small, discrete particles of a substance. These particles can vary significantly in size, composition, and purpose depending on the field of application.

In medicine, gránulos can describe small, bead-like structures found in tissues or within medications. For example, the granuloma is an inflammatory response often characterized by clusters of specialized cells, forming a gránulo. In pharmaceuticals, gránulos are often used as a dosage form for drugs, providing a convenient way to administer medication, especially for children, or to control the release of active ingredients. These gránulos are typically made of a powder formulation that has been agglomerated into larger, more manageable particles.

In industry, gránulos are common in the production of plastics, fertilizers, and detergents. Plastic gránulos, also known as pellets, are the raw material for many plastic manufacturing processes like injection molding and extrusion. Fertilizer gránulos are designed to release nutrients to plants over time, improving efficiency and reducing waste. Detergent gránulos are formulated to dissolve easily in water and effectively clean fabrics. The process of creating gránulos from powders is called granulation, which can be achieved through methods like wet granulation or dry granulation. The specific characteristics of gránulos are tailored to their intended use, influencing factors such as flowability, compressibility, and dissolution rate.