The food and pharmaceutical industries are unique because high levels of sanitation are necessary. The government has implemented standards for sanitation to protect consumers. For the dairy industry, there are even legal cleaning practices. The powder is then transported through a series of lines, cyclones, and exits through an airlock fitting.
Typical spray dried products include infant formula, powdered milk, blood, and powdered cheese.
Spray dried products allow for longer storage and ease of transport due to the lack of water content. The Marriott Walker spray dryer in the Michigan State University Dairy Plant was constructed circa 1980 for a company located in Mason, Michigan. Michigan State University purchased it from the Marriott Walker Corporation for educational and research purposes. According to the customer s representative, John Engstrom, the economic goal of the project involves making the equipment more efficient to use and bringing the system within the parameters of commercial acceptance. Michigan State utilizes the spray dryer periodically for class laboratories and research projects.