ABSTRACT
The pharmaceutical industry is one in which quality of the nal product cannot be compromised. Any deterioration of the product (e.g., by microbial infection, oxidation, thermal decomposition, contamination by metallic particles or by unremoved organic solvent) must be avoided at any cost. In light of that the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for drug manufacture (see, e.g., Ref. [1]) put numerous demands on the drying stage of the drug manufacturing process. Noncontaminating dryer construction materials are used, like polished stainless steel or enameled iron. Closed-cycle dryers are often required
as moisture removed is often an organic solvent or their mixture. Drying must be often performed in inert gas to avoid oxidation or explosion if solvent is ¤ammable. To avoid thermal decomposition in many instances vacuum and freeze drying must be employed.
