The 7th KONA AwardThe 7th KONA Award sponsored by Hosokawa
Powder Technology Foundation and given to the scientists or groups who have achieved excellence in theresearches related to the basic powder technology,
was presented to Professor Yoshiaki Kawashima ofGifu College of Pharmacy and to Prof. Isao Sekiguchi
of Chua University by Masua Hosokawa, President of
the Foundation on January 19, 1998 at the R&D
Center of Hosokawa Micron Corporation in Hirakata.
Prof. Kawashima's achievement consisted mainly ofdeveloping an original design method for the production of agglomerates with various medical functions(quick solubility, slow release characteristics, fluidity,tableting characteristics, consistency of content), by
agglomeration processing in a liquid.
Firstly, various characteristics can be given to theprimary and secondary properties of various medicines obtained by spray-drying under controlled drying temperature and spraying conditions. This
showed that micro-capsules can be made in various
shapes as well as methods for regulating the slow
release characteristics, etc., of medicines.
Secondly, Prof. Kawashima made kinetic studies on
the wet spherical agglomeration method by modelexperiments using calcium carbonate powder andcomputer simulations to clarify the agglomeration
mechanism. On the basis of this basic study, the functional characteristics of produced agglomerates wereresearched in regards to various liquid systems andsystems in which the various medicines would beused, and ways were developed for their applicationas coatings for medicines and for the DDS method.
Thirdly, spherical crystallization was developed as afurther extension of the wet agglomeration method
mentioned in the 2nd paragraph above, and a composite processing method of simultaneous crystallization
and agglomeration was developed for the first time.

This method was further expanded to reaction systems, and it was shown that reaction and agglomeration could be achieved simultaneously.
The above three methods enabled simultaneouscontrol over the primary characteristics of particulates and secondary characteristics of particulates
after agglomeration, and have been widely accepted
as a process proposal by which various high function
medicines can be easily made. In this way, Prof.
Kawashima's achievements have resulted in thedevelopment of many new conceptions and application aspects, and consequently have established anew method for designing particulates of superior
functioning for medicines.
In contrast to the agglomeration in liquids by Prof.
Kawashima , Prof. Sekiguchi's research mainly concerned agglomeration in a gaseous phase. This operation has been widely performed since ancient times,
but it is an unstationary phenomenon in which an
extremely great number of factors are involved andfor which theoretical analysis is extremely difficult tomake. In view of the technical importance of thisoperation, Prof. Sekiguchi proceeded with research inthis field.
Basic research was conducted on a number of typical agglomeration methods and outstanding results
were obtained, including a particle size distribution
rule. Also, the various and diverse agglomeration
methods and agglomeration apparatuses used in therespective industries were classified by their principleof operation, characteristics of materials and demands
placed on products. This helped systematize the overall agglomeration technology. Furthermore, he introduced a large number of technical books andhandbooks covering many technical fields, giving
substantial guidance to technicians and researchers
in related industries.

-KONA No.16 (1998)

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