Accelerated drying of soft capsules in a controlled environment

A drying system for drying soft capsules comprising:

• at least one dryer;
• a unit in fluid communication with the dryer to provide an airflow to the dryer;
• a humidifier configured to be able to increase a relative humidity within the dryer;
• a heater configured to be able to increase a temperature of air in the dryer;
• and
• a flow control valve configured to control an amount of the airflow from the unit to the dryer;
• wherein the heater is configured to increase the temperature over time according to a temperature ramp based on a melting point of a capsule shell of the soft capsules and a combination of the flow control valve and the humidifier is configured to control the relative humidity in the dryer such that the relative humidity in the dryer decreases over time from an initial relative humidity of 49% RH to 79% RH to an endpoint relative humidity of 10% RH to 24% RH, and the relative humidity is decreased in a manner whereby a differential between the relative humidity in the dryer and the equilibrium relative humidity of the soft capsules is maintained at 15% dRH to 35% dRH.

A method of drying soft capsules, said method comprising steps of:

• a) supplying a flow of air to said capsules at a velocity of the air across the soft capsules of from about 0.15 m/s to about 13 m/s;
• b) increasing, over time, a drying temperature to which said soft capsules are exposed while ensuring that the drying temperature remains below a melting temperature of a capsule shell;
• c) maintaining a differential between a relative humidity in a dryer and an equilibrium relative humidity of the soft capsules of about 15% dRH to about 35% dRH until the equilibrium relative humidity of the soft capsules reaches a desired relative humidity;
• and
• d) exposing the soft capsules from step c) to a temperature of from 20-25° C.