Agglomeration is integral to the processes of modification of powders, production of composites and creation of new materials which are required in pharmaceuticals, foods, chemicals, fertilizers and agrochemicals, minerals, ceramics, metallurgy and all material producing industries. The binding mechanisms and the particle behavior as well as the characteristics of the processes and the resulting agglomerates are the same whether they are occurring in the 'ultra--clean' pharmaceutical or food industries or in 'dirty' minerals or waste processing plants. The work is a complete and up--to--date practical guide describing the various agglomeration phenomena and industrial techniques for size enlargement. In addition to introducing the properties of agglomerates and the characteristics of the different methods, descriptions of the machinery and discussions of specific equipment features are the main topics. Furthermore, the book emphasizes recent developments at the level of single particles and applications of agglomeration phenomena in nanotechnology. The detailed evaluation of the subject is based on the authors experience as student, researcher, teacher, developer, designer, vendor, and user as well as expert and consultant in the field of agglomeration, its technologies and products, and is complemented by the know--how of colleagues who are active in specific areas and information from vendors. It is intended for everybody working in industries that process and handle particulate solids as it aims to help understand and control unwanted agglomeration as well as use, improve, and develop methods for the beneficial size enlargement by agglomeration.

Table of Contents

VOLUME 1 Introduction A Short History of Agglomeration Agglomeration as a Generic, Independent, and Interdisciplinary Field of Science Glossary of Agglomeration Terms Agglomeration Theories Agglomeration Technologies Tumble/Growth Agglomeration Pressure Agglomeration Agglomeration by Heat/Sintering Special Technologies Using the Binding Mechanisms of Agglomeration Engineering Criteria, Development, and Plant Operation Outlook Indexes: List of Vendors, Wordfinder Index, Subject Index VOLUMES 2 and 3 INTRODUCTION AGGLOMERATION AS A GENERIC, INDEPENDENT, AND INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD OF SCIENCE AGGLOMERATION FUNDAMENTALS UNDESIRED AGGLOMERATION: -METHODS TO AVOID OR LESSEN ITS EFFECT BENEFICIAL USE OF AGGLOMERATION: -AGGLOMERATION TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODS INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF SIZE ENLARGEMENT BY AGGLOMERATION General Applications Pharmaceutical Applications Applications in the Chemical Industry Applications in the Food Industry Applications for Animal Feeds Fertilizers and Agrochemicals Building Materials and Ceramics Applications in the Mining Industry (Minerals and Ores) Applications in the Metallurgical Industry Applications for Solid Fuels Special Applications POWDER METALLURGY APPLICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL Collection, Stabilization, and Deposit of Particulate Solids Recycling/ Secondary Raw Materials DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Test Facilities Tolling Operations - Contract Manufacturing Scale-up OPTIMIZATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING OF AGGLOMERATION SYSTEMS AND PLANTS Tumble/Growth Technologies Pressure Agglomeration Technologies Other Technologies APPLICATIONS OF AGGLOMERATION PHENOMENA FOR SINGLE PARTICLES AND IN NANO-TECHNOLOGIES OUTLOOK BIBLIOGRAPHY List of Books or Major Chapters on Agglomeration and Related Subjects References Author's Biography, Patents, and Publications Tables of Content of related Books by the Author GLOSSARY OF APPLICATION-RELATED TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH AGGLOMERATION LIST OF VENDORS

Author Biography

Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Pietsch is an independent, unaffiliated Consultant in the general fields of mechanical process engineering and, particularly, size enlargement by agglomeration. He received his Ph.D. at the Technical University of Karlsruhe (Germany) with the work on the fundamentals of binding mechanisms of agglomeration in 1965. He did further research in the general field of size enlargement by agglomeration at the Institute of Mechanical Process Engineering, Karlsruhe, and taught at the University of Stuttgart in Heilbronn, Germany. He was awarded the title Europa Ingenieur (EUR ING) by the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (1994). During his entire career Dr. Pietsch was involved in mechanical process technology as a researcher, teacher, process developer, designer, vendor, and user. His latest industrial positions include: Director Agglomeration Systems and Product Technology at MIDREX, Charlotte, NC (USA), General Manager Large Metallurgical Systems at Leybold-Heraeus, Hanau (Germany), Senior Technical Manager at Maschinenfabrik KOPPERN, Hattingen (Germany), and President at KOPPERN Equipment, Charlotte, NC, and Pittsburgh, PA (USA). In 1983, he became Senior Consultant of COMPACTCONSULT in Naples, FL (USA). Dr. Pietsch is the author of more than 160 papers, four books, and holds nine patents. He is a member of five professional organizations in the USA and Germany (AIChE/PTF, SME of AIME, IBA and VDI/VTG/GVC, DECHEMA) and is active in a number of technical committees. He is a frequent lecturer of workshops and short courses.