A finely divided solid material produced from liquid feedstock by atomizing the liquid into a spray and drying the droplets with hot gas. The process transforms a solution, suspension, or slurry into a dry, free-flowing powder. A common example is the production of milk powder, where liquid milk is converted into a shelf-stable powder form.
This process is crucial in various industries due to its ability to preserve and stabilize materials, reduce volume and weight for easier transportation, and control particle size for specific applications. Historically, it has been vital in food preservation and has expanded to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and other sectors demanding precise material properties and efficient processing.