The laboratory homogenizer is suitable for researching and developing high-pressure homogenization and cell cutting processes in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnology industries.
The laboratory homogenizer uses a high-pressure reciprocating pump as the power transmission and material conveying mechanism to transport materials to the working valve section. During the process of material passing through the working valve, strong shear, impact, and cavitation effects are generated under high pressure, resulting in ultrafine refinement of liquid substances or solid particles carried by liquids.
In specific production, appropriate homogenization conditions should be selected based on product requirements and equipment characteristics. The factors that generally affect the homogenization of laboratory homogenizers include:
1. Homogeneous pressure
Generally, as the homogenization pressure increases, the particle size of the crushed material decreases. The smaller the particle size of the material being crushed, the greater the energy required, and the rate at which the particles become smaller slows down. Even with high pressure, the fineness of the homogenizer's crushing function is not infinite. Too low pressure is not acceptable, and too high pressure is also unnecessary.
2. Material particle size
The size and uniformity of the initial particle size of the material are important factors affecting the average quality. The particle size of the raw material is uneven, and it is difficult to obtain high-quality products when it is uniform.
3. Material characteristics
The content of oil and fat in the mixture is also one of the important factors determining its quality. Experimental results have shown that within a certain range, reducing the proportion of oil is also one of the ways to increase homogenization effect.
4. Material temperature
When the homogenization pressure is constant, increasing the material temperature within a certain range can effectively reduce the viscosity and hardness of the material, and improve the homogenization effect. However, excessive temperature can have adverse effects on thermal stability, which must be taken into account when determining the homogenization temperature.
5. Homogenization times
On the basis of the previous rough machining, homogenization can usually be carried out once to meet the process requirements. However, when certain materials contain coarse or hard particles or when the rated pressure of the homogenizer is too low, 2-3 or even more rounds of homogenization are required to achieve fineness and uniformity. However, it should be noted that there is a temperature rise in the material after each homogenization, and the temperature after each homogenization should not exceed the allowable range of the process.
6. Homogenization valve pressure distribution
The pressure size selected for the first stage valve (high-pressure valve) and the second stage valve (low-pressure valve) also involves the working principle of the homogenizer. Experimental results have shown that the selected pressure for the secondary valve process should be controlled within 20% of the total system pressure.