Process Modification of Pharmaceutical Tablet Manufacturing Operations: An Eco-Efficiency Approach

01.Feb.2018

​A process improvement in a tablet manufacturing process within a pharmaceutical industry was carried out based on an eco-efficiency approach. As it is one of the most energy consuming processes in the production line, the tablet manufacturing process was considered. It has the highest production volume with a complicated and long manufacturing product life cycle. Data were collected on energy inputs and emissions data for the stages of powder direct mixing, particle size reduction, and tableting. A straightforward approach was then used to analyze environmental impacts in terms of GHG emissions. Non- added value steps were removed from the product life cycle process, which has led to significant time and cost savings, as well as to a reduction in the emission. Annual economic savings have been achieved, a time reduction of approximately 71% was attained, and the reduction in GHG emissions and energy cost were 73.2%. The g CO2eq per tablet reduction has been calculated within the process improvement to be 2.06 g CO2eq per tablet instead of 7.71 g CO2eq per tablet.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323028605_Process_Modification_of_Pharmaceutical_Tablet_Manufacturing_Operations_An_Eco-Efficiency_Approach​