Agglomerating and drying apparatus

A method of agglomerating powdered material with a liquid having a boiling point, comprising:

• chilling the powdered material to a temperature below the boiling point of the liquid;
• evaporating the liquid by raising the temperature to above the boiling point to produce vapor;
• agitating the chilled powdered material;
• and
• while agitating the chilled powdered material, introducing the vaporized liquid to the chilled powdered material, whereupon the vaporized liquid condenses onto the chilled powdered material for substantially uniform distribution of the liquid.

An apparatus for drying particulate matter, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a drying chamber having an inlet for particulate material conveyed in a fluidized stream, and an outlet for the particulate material having passed through the drying chamber;
• (b) a baffle fixed within the drying chamber defining a spiral flow path for the fluidized stream of particulate material from the inlet towards the outlet, wherein the baffle is constructed from a coiled length of conduit;
• and
• (c) a heat element applied along the length of the conduit for heating the fluidized stream as it passes through the conduit.