Procedure and availability of quality reagents and equipment dictate the success of most experimental processes, as many scientists would agree. Particle size reduction is no different. When you are searching for a homogenizer to support your particle size reduction process, what should you look for?
Cost Efficiency
For particle size reduction equipment, cost efficiency breaks down to three key features:
- Fewer passes - Reduces overall costs by minimizing production time and using fewer reagents. Although most products require multiple passes to achieve desired size and uniformity, some high-end homogenizers can derive optimal results in two or even one passes.
- Easy to clean - The simple task of cleaning can have long-term effects on project costs. If not effectively maintained and cleaned, parts can become damaged and require costly replacement.
- Reuse materials when possible - Probes, vessels, and beads are just a few items that can be reused with the next particle size reduction sample. Batch cleaning or autoclaving will typically be sufficient for most samples.
Flexibility
This feature is critical for labs that need to adjust their particle size reduction processes to accommodate distinct cell types and sample sizes. A high-quality homogenizer will allow the user autonomy to fine-tune the mechanical forces to a unique application.
Mechanical Forces
Particle size reduction occurs when mechanical forces work together to break up particles. There are four forces you should look for in your particle size reduction equipment:
- Adjustable process intensity - A higher intensity will achieve smaller particle sizes in fewer passes. When you search for a homogenizer, look for one that can attain up to 45,000 PSI or higher.
- Cavitation - Thought of as the formation of liquid-free spaces within a liquid, cavitation is a phenomenon that can occur when a high amount of pressure is exerted on the liquid.
- High shear rate - Particularly beneficial when a dispersion is required, high-shear mixers mix two normally immiscible phases, such as with water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions.
- Impact - Use of grinding beads allows for lysis of difficult-to-disrupt cells; the force of impact allows them to also effectively reduce particle size.
Pion: The BEE Brand Homogenizer Advantage
As you hunt for particle size reduction equipment that will suit your lab’s purposes, consider how the above-listed factors will improve the quality of your products. Although many companies manufacture homogenizers, few are of the high quality needed to achieve reliable and reproducible results. One example of equipment that does meet such expectations is the high-pressure homogenizer by Pion.
Pion products are trusted by researchers and lab managers around the world for key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions, dispersions, and suspensions; importantly, our equipment can achieve consistent particle sizes at or below 100 nm, a key benefit for researchers & corporations across a wide variety of industries.
