A small-scale or micro media-mill and a method of milling materials or products,
especially pharmaceutical products, use a dispersion containing attrition milling
media and the product to be milled. The milling media can be polymeric, formed
of polystyrene or cross-linked polystyrene, having a nominal diameter of no greater
than 500 microns. Other sizes include 200 microns and 50 microns and a mixture
of these sizes. The mill has a relatively small vessel having an opening, an agitator,
a coupling and a motor. The agitator can have a rotor and a shaft extending therefrom.
The rotor can be cylindrical or have other configurations, and can have tapered
end surfaces. The coupling can close the vessel opening, or attaching the coupling
to the motor can close the opening. The coupling has an opening through which the
rotor shaft extends into the motor. A sealing mechanism, such as a mechanical or
lip seals the shaft while permitting the rotor shaft to rotate. The vessel can
contain one or more ports for circulating the dispersion, where milling can be
made in batches or recirculated through the milling chamber. The media can be retained
in the vessel or recirculated along with the process fluid. The rotor is dimensioned
so that its outer periphery is spaced with a small gap from an inner surface of
the vessel. The vessel also can have a way of cooling the dispersion.