Everything You Should Know About Homogenization Processes and Applications

Homogenization refers to any of the techniques used to make a mixture of two mutually insoluble liquids the same throughout. To do this, one of the liquids is adjusted such that the minute particles are evenly dispersed throughout the other liquid. In other terms, homogenization is the process of blending two immiscible liquids into an emulsion.

In high-shear homogenizers, Genizer homogenization technology uses a microfluidic Diamond Interaction Chamber (DIXC) to create homogeneous nanoparticles.

To provide a constant processing profile, the processed fluid passes through the fixed shape of the Y- and Z-type microfluidics chambers (also known as continuous microreactors). This process allows for the creation of oil-in-water and water-in-oil nanoemulsions (100–1000 nm).

High-Pressure Nozzle, Impact Valve, or Microfluidics Chamber (Microreactor)?

Regardless of flow rate, high-pressure homogenization process pumps can supply 100–300 MPa hydrostatic pressure to a liquid with no flow limits. Current industrial, pilot, and lab-scale high-pressure homogenizers employ plunger-like pumps and valves, nozzles, or chambers made of hard ceramics or precious stones that are abrasion resistant.

Cavitation (Figure A), impact (Figure B), and shear are all indicators of effective homogenization. The valves, nozzles, or chambers support one or more of these properties.

Table 1. Selection Guide for Chamber Types. Source: Genizer LLC

Three-Types Homogenizing Mechanism in History. Image Credit: Genizer LLC

Manufacturers of high-pressure homogenizers such as Genizer, Microfluidics (Y-type interaction chamber), Avestin (static homogenizing valve), and Nanomizer (collision-type generator) have all used the Y-type interaction chamber (Figure C), which is considered one of the most powerful chambers to date.

In these systems, the flow stream is split into two channels, which are subsequently combined into a single flow stream by being directed at right angles over the same plane. The high pressure causes a high speed at the flow crossover, causing turbulence, cavitation, and high shear across the single outgoing flow stream.

The Y-type chamber consists of two blocks of diamond or ceramic, with a tiny hole (nozzle) of 50–400 μm in diameter. First, two block-forming sections are visibly flattened by grinding and lapping.

The grooves are then properly aligned and cemented into the face of each block in the appropriate sizes and shapes. The homogenization energy is focused when the liquid streams collide in the internal drain at the collision site.

Y-type chamber made by two blocks of an optically flat disk. Image Credit: Genizer LLC

The Y-Type Diamond Interaction Chamber (DIXC) is employed in a high-pressure homogenizer to make homogeneous nanoparticles. The fixed shape of the Y-Type DIXC is designed to generate a uniform processing profile, ensuring that all materials are treated with equal disruptive forces.

Single-slotted interaction chambers have a single microchannel and are ideal for small-batch research, whereas multi-slotted interaction chambers include multiple microchannels in parallel, and can be used at industrial scales by increasing the flow rate through the DIXC while maintaining equal processing forces.

Structure of Y-type chamber and Y-type-RT chamber. Image Credit: Genizer LLC

Photo of Y-type chambers and Y-type-RT chambers. Image Credit: Genizer LLC

The NanoGenizer high-pressure homogenizer consists of a feed reservoir, high-pressure pump, transducer, PLC control panel, and microfluidics diamond interaction chamber.

Its sanitary pump system can provide the necessary pressure to the product stream and force it through the Y-type or Z-type chamber, resulting in high shear rates and forceful impact.

The system’s applications include cell disruption, particle size reduction, nanoemulsions, nanodispersions, liposomes, deagglomeration, and vaccine production, among others.

Nanogenizer high pressure homogenizer equipped with Y-type chamber. Image Credit: Genizer LLC

Table 2. Pressure and chamber selection for various applications with NanoGenizer. Source: Genizer LLC

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Cells	Mammalian cell	Insect cell	Bacteria cell	Yeast cell	Algae cell	SPore
Sample	CHO | Hela	Sf9 | Sf21 | H5	E. Coli	Yeast	Green algaea	Ganoderma
Pressure	600–800 bar 8500–11,500 psi	600–1000 bar 8500–14,500 psi	800–1000 bar 11,500–14,500 psi	1200–1400 bar 17,500–20,000 psi	1200–1500 bar 7500–21,500 psi	1300–1600 bar 18,500–23,000 psi
Chamber	F20Y, F20Y-RT	F20Y, F20Y-RT	F20Y, F20Y-RT	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y
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Emulsions	Oil in water emulsions	Water in oil emulsions	Oil emulsion	Food	Liposome (o/w)	Liposome (w/o)
Sample	Fat emulsion | Prostaglandin	Cosmetics	Dimethicone | Fuel	Milk	Doxorubicin	DNA | lipopolyplex
Pressure	~20,000 psi	~10,000 psi	~20,000 psi	~10,000 psi	~20,000 psi	~8,000 psi
Chamber	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y
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Dispersions	Pigments	Drugs/Creams	Battery	Particle aggregation	Graphene	Nanotubes
Sample	Inks, coatings	Norfloxacin, Isoxyl	Lithium/ solar cell	Nano fibril	Graphene	Carbon nanotubes
Pressure	~20,000 psi	~20,000 psi	~20,000 psi	~25,000 psi	~50,000 psi (single layer)	>20,000 psi
Chamber	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y	F20Y, F12Y

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Genizer LLC.

For more information on this source, please visit Genizer LLC.