Granulation vs Agglomeration: Process vs System

Fundamental Conceptual Differences In the field of particle manufacturing, agglomeration and granulation are two closely related but fundamentally different concepts. Agglomeration refers to the physicochemical process where dispersed powder particles gather together to form aggregates under the action of binding forces or external forces, while granulation is a complete systematic engineering process aimed at producing qualified granular products. Simply put, agglomeration is the core part of granulation, but granulation encompasses much more than just agglomeration. Agglomeration solves the problem of “from dispersion to aggregation,” while granulation solves the problem of “from raw materials to qualified products.” This distinction determines their different positions and values in industrial applications. Differences in Scope and Objectives As a single process, agglomeration has a relatively narrow scope, mainly focusing on how particles transition from a dispersed state to an aggregated state. This process may produce loose aggregates of varying sizes and insufficient strength, which often cannot be directly used as products. In contrast, granulation is a complete process flow that includes multiple procedures besides agglomeration, such as pretreatment, solidification, shaping, and screening. Illustrative Analogy If granulation is compared to building a complete house, then agglomeration is like constructing the building’s framework. Just having a framework is insufficient – subsequent work such as wall construction, interior and exterior decoration, and quality inspection are needed to obtain a qualified house ready for occupancy. Similarly, aggregates formed merely through agglomeration require further processes like solidification and shaping to become qualified granular products.