Editing Instant coffee (section)

===Spray drying===
{{main|Spray drying}}
[[Image:Labspraydryer.svg|thumb|Laboratory-scale spray dryer.<br /> A=Solution or suspension to be dried in, B=Atomization gas in, 1= Drying gas in, 2=Heating of drying gas, 3=Spraying of solution or suspension, 4=Drying chamber, 5=Part between drying chamber and cyclone, 6=Cyclone, 7=Drying gas is taken away, 8=Collection vessel of product, arrows mean that this is co-current lab-spraydryer]]

Spray drying is preferred to freeze-drying in some cases because it allows larger scale economic production, shorter drying times, and because it produces fine rounded particles.

The process produces spherical particles about {{convert|300|μm}} in size with a density of 0.22&nbsp;g/cm<sup>3</sup>.<ref>{{cite book | title = Spray Drying Handbook | edition = 5th | first = K | last = Masters | year = 1991 | publisher = Longman Scientific & Technical | isbn = 978-0-582-06266-5 }}</ref> To achieve this, nozzle atomization is used. Various ways of nozzle atomization can be used each having its own advantages and disadvantages. High speed rotating wheels operating at speeds of about 20,000&nbsp;rpm are able to process up to {{convert|6000|lb|kg}} of solution per hour.<ref>{{cite book | title = Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design | editor = John J. McKetta | publisher = Marcel Dekker Inc | year = 1995 | isbn = 978-0-8247-2604-1 }}</ref> The use of [[spray wheel]]s requires that the drying towers have a wide radius to avoid the atomized droplets collecting onto the drying chamber walls.
* Completed in 5–30 seconds (dependent on factors such as heat, size of particle, and diameter of chamber).
* Moisture content change: IN = 75–85% OUT = 3–3.5%
* Air temperature: IN = {{convert|270|°C}} OUT = {{convert|110|°C}}

One drawback with spray drying is that the particles it produces are too fine to be used effectively by the consumer; they must first be either steam-fused in towers similar to spray dryers or by belt agglomeration to produce particles of suitable size.