Final answer:
Spray drying is a process where a liquid is converted into a fine powder by spraying it through a nozzle into a hot gas, causing rapid evaporation. This method is distinct from evaporation, condensation, or sublimation which are other phase transitions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spray drying is a process of converting a liquid into a dry powder form by rapidly drying with a hot gas. This is commonly used in many industries to produce consistent and homogenous powders that are easy to store, transport, and use in various applications. A liquid solution, which can contain solids in suspension, is sprayed through a nozzle into a hot drying medium. This creates fine droplets that evaporate quickly, leaving behind a powder. Evaporation is a similar but different process, which involves the conversion of a liquid to its vapor below the boiling point, and condensation is the reverse, where gas converts to a liquid. None of these processes should be confused with sublimation, which is the direct transition from a solid to a gas.