Industrial Dehumidifiers for the Pharmaceutical Industry

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the few industries that must strictly complying with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Dezenno dehumidifiers offer a moisture control solution for the pharmaceutical industry.

Many pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and similar products, including hygroscopic materials like powders, granulates, and capsules, are heavily affected by high humidity. Elevated humidity levels can cause medications to degrade more quickly. Degraded doses, such as insulin or nitroglycerin, can be life-threatening for patients. Even common medications, when degraded, can have harmful effects.

High humidity can also decolourised medications. Sometimes, the appearance of pills or liquid medicines may not change, leading patients to believe the medication is still good, when in reality, it may have degraded if not stored at proper conditions. Degraded antibiotics can harm the stomach and kidneys, aspirin can cause more severe stomach irritation, and skin creams containing hydrocortisone can become ineffective. Additionally, test strips, such as those for blood glucose or pregnancy tests, can yield inaccurate results, especially in hot and humid climates.

Thyroid medications, contraceptives, and all medications containing hormones are particularly susceptible to degradation when exposed to high temperatures, as these drugs often contain proteins that can denature in such conditions.

Typical problems when pharmaceuticals are processed and stored in hot and humid environments include:

When pharmaceutical processing materials are exposed to air humidity, a range of issues can arise:

1. Sticked powder thwarts mixing pipes in the machine.

2. Drug weight and volume are affected.

3. Risk of bacterial growth surge.

4. Active ingredients processed inaccurately.

5. Product characterised are altered antithetically.

6. Medicines get decolourised.

7. Product lifespan is decreased.

8. The efficiency of medicine processing get slowdown.

9. Packaging difficulties emerged.

DeAir delivered rotor dehumidifiers to Bình Dương Pharmaceutical Company.

Desiccant dehumidifiers are the most suitable equipment for large pharmaceutical processing companies and central hospitals.

According to the guidelines compiled in close cooperation with the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP):

Storage areas must have adequate capacity to store various types of products and goods in an orderly manner, including raw materials and packaging, intermediate products, bulk products, finished products, quarantined products awaiting inspection, products ready for shipment, rejected products, returned products, and recalled products.

Storage areas should be designed or modified to ensure optimal storage conditions. In particular, the storage area must be clean and dry, and the temperature should be maintained within a favorable range. In areas requiring specific storage conditions as indicated on product labels (such as temperature and humidity), those conditions must be met, monitored, and recorded. Materials and pharmaceuticals should be stored at an appropriate distance from the floor to facilitate cleaning and inspection. Packages should be kept clean and tidy.

DeAir delivers humidity control unit to Hau Giang Pharmaceutical Company.

Industrial dehumidifiers with medium capacity are ideally suited for small-scale pharmaceutical procesing premises, pharmaceutical distribution agencies, provincial and district hospitals.

Proper storage and adherence to stringent standards set by the Drug Administration are crucial.

Normally, the best solution involves managing humidity levels in storage and production areas. Thus. maintaining stable humidity ensures optimal production efficiency and minimises issues. Companies should use dehumidifiers in the following areas:

1.     Laboratories

2.     Powder and liquid storage areas

3.     Product mixing areas 

4.     Product drying areas

5.     Tablet compression areas

6.     Finished product storage areas

7.     Film coating processing areas 

Normal Pharmaceutical Storage Conditions: Store in a dry, well-ventilated area with temperatures between 15–25°C or, depending on the climate, up to 30°C. Specific conditions for contamination, dust, and light intensity are not covered under normal storage conditions. "Avoid storing in humid conditions": Relative humidity should not exceed 60% in normal storage conditions, and medications should be provided in moisture-resistant packaging. This applies to insulin for diabetes patients, anti-seizure medications, anticoagulants, etc. Humidity can cause slight changes in content, potentially leading to significant health impacts. To ensure medication quality, consider the following key storage tips:

1. Ideal Storage: Medications should be stored in a cool, dry place (except those that require refrigeration as per the manufacturer’s instructions). Avoid storing medicines in damp areas like bathrooms or kitchen drawers. A dedicated family medicine cabinet in a dry, cool place with a lock is recommended to prevent tampering by children.

2. Original Packaging: Do not remove medications from their original packaging as it exposes them to adverse external temperatures. For elderly individuals who prepare daily doses, medications should still be stored in a cool, dry place if removed from original packaging.

3. Insulin Storage: Unopened insulin should be kept in the refrigerator (but not the freezer). After opening, it can be stored at room temperature (20°C) for easier injection. Avoid leaving medications in the car; always take them with you.

4. Pharmacy Storage: Pharmacies should use dehumidifiers for storing medications in their warehouses.