Wet Granulation of Cereal Grains in a Tapered Fluidized Bed

Wet granulation of cereal grains has been studied in a conical fluidized bed designed and realized in our laboratory. This test facility consists essentially of a conical vessel, a two-fluid nozzle and an electric heater for drying. Powders of durum wheat semolina, barley flour and durum wheat flour were the solid materials used. The hydrodynamic study, conducted for different static bed heights and air flows of 2 - 30 m(3)/h, led to the determination of the minimum fluidization velocity and maximum pressure drop. For different operating conditions, granulation tests were carried out in batch. Particle size, flowability, friability and residual humidity of grains were the parameters investigated.