Powder agglomeration processes of bulk materials – A state of the art review on different granulation methods and applications

Agglomeration is the process of forming powder into larger, more cohesive pieces, like pellets or granules, within the field of powder processing. Powder agglomeration is a simple process that reduces the particle size of powdery substances, making them more manageable and storing them less of a hassle. Therefore, the present review paper surveyed a critical review using bibliometrics to trace the development of ideas about powder aggregation during the past four decades. The research methodology based on general results, database and keywords selection were adopted to analyze the results from literature. In addition, there is extensive discussion of the granulation of bulk materials in both Polish and international literature. The aggregation of bulk materials is an essential step in the processing cycle, and if done incorrectly, it can have serious consequences. New, cutting-edge market solutions not only improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing ones, but also boost the quality of the granules that may be obtained. Understanding the physicochemical features of the processed substances is essential for choosing the most appropriate granulation technique, each of which has its own benefits and drawbacks.