Patent ID: 6962006

Claim:
A method for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material, through at least one atomizer and into a primary drying chamber having a drying gas inlet, a discharge outlet, and a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and the bulk material, wherein the droplets are dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in the drying gas, the particles dispersed in the drying gas being a feedstream; and (c) flowing the particles of the feedstream through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles, wherein the jet mill comprises a spiral jet mill or other fluid energy impact mill.