How Are Gelatin Capsules Made?

Traditionally, gelatin capsules have been used in the pharmaceutical industry. However, food preparations and the cosmetics industry have also utilized this form of capsule. Depending on the type of fill, the shell can be either opaque or transparent.

Today, there are two types of gelatin capsules: hard and soft. The hard variety is used for powdered drug formulations. The shell is usually made from gelatin, but may contain colourants and opacifying agents. The soft variety is thicker and more flexible. It is also called a gel cap or a softgel.

The manufacturing process for gelatin capsules involves a series of steps. The first step is to extract the gelatin from the raw materials. After that, the material is placed in a spectrometer to check for impurities. These impurities may include bacteria.

The raw materials are then put in a specialized oven. The temperature is adjusted to stimulate the growth of the organisms. In addition, the pH of the solution is also tested. The moisture content of the finished capsules is 12-16% w/v. The shell may be coloured or opaque.

The second step is to add the appropriate filling material. These materials can be water-soluble or water-insoluble. The filling solution can also be modified to meet the needs of different consumers. Some of the filling materials used are plant polysaccharides, cellulose, starch, and carrageenans.

During the manufacture of gelatin capsules, manufacturers must be very careful. To ensure the safety of consumers, all the raw materials must pass strict quality controls.