The availability of common household products like salad dressings, dairy products, pharmaceutical and cosmetic creams/lotions, and more, is possible because of emulsions. An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible liquids- commonly oil and water. Because these opposing liquids wouldn’t naturally interact, emulsion production requires powerful mixing to achieve a stable product. Most industries solve this dilemma by homogenizing their samples; yet what is homogenization, and why is it a chosen method of emulsion production? Keep reading to find out.
Homogenizers are part of a class of processing equipment that work to reduce the particle size of a given sample. When a sample enters the machine, it must pass through a narrow space while being acted on by high pressure and multiple mechanical forces (e.g. cavitation, turbulence, shear). Compared with other mixing processes, homogenization confers a number of advantages, regardless of the product being synthesized. For example, other machines like inline mixers use only a single mechanical force, while the multiple forces of a homogenizer allow for smaller particle sizes and more stable mixtures.
Specific to emulsions, homogenization offers three primary benefits:
1) Production of stable emulsions. This means that the two phases won’t separate after sitting for long periods of time, and is accomplished by the intensive pressure imparted on the sample.
2) Ability to decrease particle size. As indicated earlier, homogenizers utilize pressure along with multiple mechanical forces to decrease particle size more than most other available mixing equipment. Through the lens of an emulsion, this results in higher surface area availability of the dispersed phase and enhanced bioavailability.
3) Overcomes resistance of two immiscible liquids. Water and oil, in a mixing machine, impart resistance because of their opposing attractions. The high shear offered by homogenization helps to overcome this resistance to produce a high quality emulsion.
Pion: Bringing You the Advantage of Homogenizers
Emulsion production involves high pressure mixing, with homogenization as a popular method for its ability to reduce particle sizes more significantly than other blending methods. The first step in synthesizing an emulsion is purchasing equipment that will achieve small and consistent particle size distribution. One such example is the high pressure homogenizer by Pion. Our products are trusted by researchers and lab managers around the world and within all industries for key benefits, such as production of nano/micro emulsions, dispersions, and suspensions. Importantly, this equipment can achieve consistent particle sizes at or below 100 nm, a key benefit for products that require stable emulsions.
In addition, Pion has extensive experience assisting its product users as they transition through the drug development process. Our homogenizers are differentiated for R&D, clinical trials, and manufacturing, and our customer support is reliable, experience-driven, and effective.
Learn more about how Pion can enhance your emulsion production process by contacting us today!
