Aerosol Propellants
A suspension of tiny liquid or solid particles in air or another gas is known as an aerosol. Sulfates, organic carbon, black carbon, nitrates, mineral dust, and sea salt are important aerosol groups that frequently clump together to create complicated mixtures. The several varieties of aerosol include dust, fume, mist, smoke, and fog, which are categorized based on their physical shape and the method of production.
Typically, aerosols are utilized in a kind of dispensing system that emits a mist of liquid particles in the form of an aerosol. It consists of a substance-containing container or bottle and a pressurized propellant. The chemical is driven out of a small orifice when the valve on the container is opened and comes out as an aerosol or mist.
Pharmaceutical aerosols have an advantage in healthcare because of their various benefits. Pharmaceutical aerosols are simple to use, provide effective relief right where the infection is, and are quickly administered. Aerosols can be used for both systemic and local applications, and the stability of the substance is maintained when it is kept in a container or inhaler because it doesn’t come into contact with oxygen or moisture which prevents contamination.
How Aerosols Work
A portion of the propellant typically exists in an aerosol as a gas above the product. When the valve is opened, this gas pushes down on the liquid, forcing it to rise through the dip tube and out the valve. Product and liquified gas are both present in the liquid. The gas in the container evaporates as the aerosol is released, maintaining the aerosol’s performance and pressure.
The liquid propellant turns into a gas when the liquid combination is expelled from the aerosol, which aids in dispersing the product into a fine mist. The liquid gas in foams like mousse and aftershave produces bubbles, which causes the substance to expand when it is expelled from the aerosol. Depending on the product, different aerosols have different amounts of propellant. For instance, more is utilized for fine mists than for foams, etc.
Healthcare Applications
- Disinfectants
- Inhalers – such as Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs) and Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs)
- Anesthetic preparations
- Nebulizer
