agglomerering

Agglomeration, or agglomerering in many languages, is the process of forming larger aggregates from fine particles. Agglomerates are typically more handleable and less dusty than the starting fines, and their size, strength, and porosity are influenced by moisture, binders, temperature, and processing history.

Mechanisms include mechanical interlocking, liquid bridges created by moisture, and chemical or physical bonds formed by binders. Agglomeration can be achieved through several methods, notably wet granulation, briquetting, pelletizing, and extrusion-spheronization, as well as high-temperature sintering in some mineral processes.

Common techniques are pelletizing, where damp fines are rolled into spheres in a pelletizer or disc; briquetting, which compresses powder into larger blocks; drum or pan granulation, which forms granules in rotating equipment; and extrusion-spheronization used in pharmaceutical granulation. Binder materials may be clays, polymers, cementitious binders, or sugar and starch in pharma, depending on the product.

Applications include mineral processing (preparing ore feed for pelletizing or heap leaching), fertilizer production (granulated products), cement and construction materials (coarse agglomerates for handling), and pharmaceuticals (granules to improve flow, mixing, and tablet compression).

Advantages of agglomeration include improved flowability, reduced dust, easier handling, and controlled release or dissolution. Drawbacks can include added processing steps, binder costs, moisture sensitivity, and energy use; optimization of moisture, binder type, and particle size is essential.

See also: granulation, pelletizing, briquetting, agglomeration in mining. The term stems from Latin agglomerare and is widely used in mining, chemical engineering, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.