Potent Powder Handling Isolators

Ensuring Safety when Handling Toxic Powders with Isolators

Handling toxic, cytotoxic or highly active powders poses a significant risk to operators and the working environment. Even in low concentrations, inhalation or skin contact with these substances can cause serious health effects. This is why the use of isolators for handling toxic powders has become an essential standard in the industries concerned. These closed enclosures provide optimal physical containment to prevent any dispersion of particles into the atmosphere.

An isolator works on the principle of a closed environment, accessible only through gloves integrated into the wall. It can be kept under negative pressure to prevent any leakage to the outside, or under positive pressure in cases where product protection takes precedence over operator protection. In the case of toxic powders, the negative pressure configuration is the most commonly used. It is combined with high-efficiency filtration systems (HEPA or ULPA).

In addition to the physical barrier, these isolators generally incorporate secure transfer systems (RTP), decontamination airlocks and cleaning-in-place (CIP) and sterilisation-in-place (SIP) devices. These elements ensure a high level of containment throughout the various stages of handling, from dosing to waste disposal.

Essential Criteria for Choosing an Isolator Suitable for Hazardous Substances

To find the best isolators for handling toxic powders, certain criteria must be considered. The first factor is the expected level of performance, generally expressed in terms of ‘Containment Performance Target’ (CPT). For highly toxic powders, a CPT of less than 1 µg/m³ is often required.

Ergonomics also deserves special attention. The desired isolator must therefore allow the operator to perform all necessary tasks without compromising safety or causing excessive fatigue. The configuration of the gloves, the internal layout and visibility are other points to check. It is also important to ensure that the containment system is compatible with the production equipment used in the process, such as scales, mixers and dosing tools.

Cleaning and decontamination cycles must also be taken into account. The isolator of choice must therefore be easy to clean and sterilise, with reproducible protocols that comply with standards. Documentation and traceability of operations (audit trail, pressure sensors and alarms) are also essential to guarantee GMP compliance and ensure rigorous monitoring of operations. Finally, the modularity and adaptability of the isolator are important advantages. In fact, a good system must be able to evolve according to the manufacturer’s needs, accommodate new tools or be integrated into automated production lines.

EREA Pharma’s Expertise in Designing Isolators for Toxic Environments

EREA Pharma is a leading partner for laboratories and industries that handle toxic powders. With recognised expertise in the design and integration of isolators, we offer customised solutions that meet containment, safety and performance standards.

Our isolators are therefore custom-designed to adapt to each customer’s specific constraints, whether for weighing, transfer, formulation or packaging operations. Each project is thoroughly studied to ensure optimal containment (up to <1 µg/m³), while maintaining productivity and operator ergonomics.

We also integrate advanced technologies such as RTP systems, aseptic transfer locks, high-efficiency HEPA filters and digitalised control interfaces into our isolators. We also support our customers in the qualification of our equipment, ensuring the FAT, SAT and validation phases.

The pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries can therefore no longer do without isolators for handling toxic powders. Nevertheless, it is still important to choose high-quality equipment such as that offered by EREA Pharma.

Would you like to browse our catalogue of isolators to find the one that best meets your requirements? Contact us!