BEE International Blog

Cell lysis is the process by which cell membranes are broken down so that the contents within the cell can be studied and/or purified. It’s a critical part of many industrial and research enterprises, often providing the only means by which certain products can be made or used. There are several different ways to lyse cells (broadly categorized as either mechanical or non-mechanical) with each type dependent on the makeup of the cellular barrier, as well as the intended application of the cellular contents themselves. For instance, some cell lysis methods are highly destructive and, thus, not suitable in situations where the contents of the cell need to remain intact to be serviceable (such as during RNA and protein extractions). Others only work when applied to weaker cell barriers (such as animal plasma membranes vs. plant cell walls), and still others have to be combined with additional processes in order to effectively open the cell at all. The good news is that a variety of homogenizers can lyse cells under a variety of circumstances. Read on to learn more.

Mechanical Cell Lysis Options with Homogenizers

Mechanical cell lysis utilizes a particular force (or forces) to physically break apart a cell. It differs from non-mechanical cell lysis in that it doesn’t rely on any added chemicals or enzymes to promote cell disruption, thus making it a better option for large samples with tough cell walls (plant, fungi, bacterial and algal, etc.) where sensitivity might not be as big an issue and when unwanted additives could contaminate the lysate. Here’s how different homogenizers lyse cells:

1. Agitation, Stirring, Shearing and Impact

Mechanical homogenizers like blenders, mortars and pestles, bead mills, rotor-stator homogenizers and blade homogenizers use a blade, probe or beads to generate turbulent mixing that breaks apart cellular membranes. These types of homogenizers are especially useful because they can be customized in various ways (according to sample size and viscosity, processing time and agitation speed, to name but a few), making it easier to ensure that an appropriate amount of force is applied in the least disruptive way. This not only saves valuable time and money, it better safeguards cellular contents.

2. High-Pressure

Other types of homogenizers — high pressure homogenizers or HPHs — apply pressure to lyse cells. By squeezing cell suspensions through a narrow opening, HPHs effectively disrupt cellular bonds, leaving the intracellular contents exposed.

3. Ultrasonic Sound Waves 

Finally, some homogenizers make use of high frequency sound waves to create microbubbles within a cell suspension that expand, coalesce and then burst, causing cells to break apart. These types of homogenizers are known as ultrasonic homogenizers and are especially useful because the frequency and strength of the waves can be adjusted for both small and large samples, as well as a range of cell types. In addition, the amount of ultrasonic force can be amplified (or not) depending on the type of cellular barrier (i.e., more force can be applied when the sample is a plant cell and less when it is an animal one).

Ready to Learn More?

You need the right equipment to lyse cells. Different homogenizing methods offer different advantages and disadvantages. The key is matching the best process to your application and your available resources. We believe our homogenizers here at BEE International provide you with the most optimal solution because our patented Emulsifying Cell (EC) system provides you with options that a singular type of homogenizing system would not. With our machines you can combine and customize homogenizing forces so that your cell lysis processes are effective and profitable. Contact us to learn more.

You might also wish to download our free eBook, “7 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing A Cell Lysis Method,” for additional information.

Many industries use homogenizers as part of their manufacturing processes. Companies (cosmetic, food, chemical and pharmaceutical, to name but a few) need homogenizers to mix together the elements of their products. Effective mixtures not only have a better viscosity, consistency, texture, flavor and/or appearance (depending on the end product’s use), they create a stability within the product that extends shelf life, as well as increases bioavailability and efficacy (when applicable). This ultimately saves businesses of all types both time and money. In order to understand how homogenizers can facilitate all these advantages, however, it’s first necessary to learn about “mixtures.” Contrary to what might seem apparent, the word “mixture” can mean a lot of different things. Read on for a simple explanation of the difference between solutions, suspensions and colloids — all of which can be accurately classified as mixtures!

Mixtures Are Either Homogeneous or Heterogenous      

Chemically, all matter is either a pure substance (an element or compound) or a mixture of two or more elements and/or compounds. Furthermore, mixtures can either be homogeneous or heterogenous. A homogeneous mixture is uniform in its composition, meaning that no matter how you divide it, it will always display the same properties. For example, air is homogeneous mixture of several separate gases (N₂, O₂, H₂O, and CO₂); any volume of air will always contain the same ratios of its component gases.

All homogeneous mixtures can also be called solutions, composed of the solvent (the component of the substance that exists in the greatest amount) and one or more solutes (those components that exist in smaller volumes). In essence, solutes are “dissolved” in the solvent, making it impossible to identify either. And while water is the most evident solvent, other gases, liquids and even solids can be solvents, too.

A heterogenous mixture, on the other hand, is not uniform in composition; it’s a combination of two or more substances, like sand. Sand, when viewed under a microscope, will display an uneven distribution of particles, meaning no one handful will contain the same ratio of individual parts.

Heterogeneous Mixtures Can Be Further Separated Into…

All homogeneous mixtures are solutions, but heterogenous mixtures can be split into two separate categories: suspensions and colloids.

Suspensions are heterogenous mixtures where the individual components of the substance can be physically observed (when left to settle). Think about how many oil-based salad dressings separate into two layers in a bottle. Or how a bit of dirt in a glass of water eventually falls in a layer of silt at the bottom. These are all examples of suspensions.

Colloids are also heterogenous mixtures of particles, but the particles in colloids are significantly smaller than those found in suspensions — only 1 to 1,000 nanometers in diameter. Although these particles are very tiny, they remain larger than those found in homogeneous solutions and generate a tell-tell opaque appearance when light is applied to them. Indeed, colloids are often differentiated from solutions via the Tyndall Effect, the scattering of light that occurs when a light beam encounters the particles within a heterogenous mixture. If a beam cannot pass through a substance but rather bounces off it, you know that there are individual particles suspended in that substance reflecting the light, thus making it either a colloid or a suspension. Some examples of colloids include milk, mayonnaise and butter.

BEE International: The Clear Choice for High-Pressure Homogenizers

The effective mixing of components determines the value of many different types of products. Homogenizers, especially quality high pressure homogenizers (HPHs), create stable solutions, suspensions and colloids that can be used for a variety of purposes. If you would like to learn more about homogenizers and the specific benefits of a BEE International high pressure homogenizer, please contact us today!

You are also welcome to download our free eBook, “How to Achieve Efficient & Consistent Particle Size Reduction,” for additional insight on the benefits of consistent particle size reduction.

If you had to write down a list of the qualities that all great products possess, what words would you choose? You’d probably start with functionality — a good product needs to serve a purpose. You’d also want it to taste or look or perform well. You might write down “value” and “sustainability.” And maybe you’d throw in “superior customer support.” While all of these characteristics accurately describe great products — no matter the industry — perhaps the most important one would be “reliability.” Great products are great only if they can be produced over and over again. For many industries (such as the food, pharmaceutical, chemical and biotech ones), great products depend on being mixed in the right way so that they appear and function the same way every time a new batch exits the manufacturing line. For colloidal suspensions, like those found in many food items and cosmetics, this means that they don’t separate or deteriorate while sitting on a shelf or in a drawer. Take a look at how you improve colloidal suspensions by using a high quality homogenizer:

Reduction of Particle Size

Put simply, homogenizers break apart substances. By disrupting a sample’s molecular bonds, homogenizers reduce particle size and facilitate the effective mixing of all the sample’s components. And clearly, smaller pieces make better mixtures. However, while most homogenizers utilize only one type of force to break apart and mix a sample (pressure, cavitation, turbulence, shear, or impact), our homogenizers here at BEE International are unique. Our equipment combines high pressure with all the other forces so that covalent bonds are less violently disrupted (thus, preserving other key elements), particle size is further reduced and components of a sample are more thoroughly mixed. Our proprietary homogenizing system has the added benefit of being completely customizable, allowing operators the ability to manage the duration, intensity and dominant force used at every stage of the mixing process.

Reduction of the Number of Passes

Furthermore, if a homogenizer does its job well, you don’t need to repeatedly pass product through its system for maximum results. Thus, fewer production passes means saved time and saved money, especially when used for large-scale manufacturing runs.

Preservation and Extension of Shelf Life

Another benefit of homogenization is its ability to help preserve products by creating a tighter distribution of very small particles. A tighter distribution of particles equates to more surface area on which chemical reactions can occur, with the result being better stability. Indeed, a tight distribution of particles helps mixtures stay coalesced for longer periods of time (i.e., better viscosity, consistency, texture, appearance and/or flavor), improves chemical reactions (i.e., better absorption and bioavailability) and eliminates volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When high pressure homogenization (HPH) is specifically used to mix colloidal suspensions, benefits are further compounded, as HPH acts as a preservation method, its intense pressure killing harmful microorganisms that could threaten the colloid suspension’s overall quality and length of its usefulness.

The BEE International Advantage

All industries need reliable products to be successful. If you’re in a business or research setting that requires you to mix together substances, you need equipment that ensures you the smallest particles and, therefore, the highest quality solutions and colloidal suspensions. Our patented Emulsifying Cell (EC) technology guarantees scale-up to production and reproduces reliable results. Every. Single. Time. Contact us to learn why manufacturers, researchers and lab managers around the world trust our equipment with their needs.

Please also download our free eBook, “Advantages of BEE Homogenizers for the Pharmaceutical Industry,” for more specific information about the benefit of using homogenizers within the pharmaceutical industry.

All homogenizers work to disrupt molecular bonds so that two substances can be thoroughly mixed together. The force used to facilitate such mixtures varies; the most basic way to separate different types of homogenizers is by labeling them either mechanical (those using physical forces such as agitation, stirring, shearing and/or impact to break covalent bonds), high pressure (those using pressure) or ultrasonic (those using sonic sound waves and cavitation). There are drawbacks and advantages to each type of homogenizer depending on your application and resources. In this post, we consider the greatest benefits to using an ultrasonic mixer (also known as a sonicator) for your homogenizing needs.

Ultrasonic Mixers are Versatile

All homogenizers can effectively mix liquids, and some can mix samples of a solid with a liquid; ultrasonic mixers do both. When ultrasonic waves are applied to a liquid medium, a cycle of alternating high and low pressure eventually creates vacuum bubbles. These bubbles grow and merge together, ultimately reaching a size that collapses and sends a shock wave through the mixture (i.e., cavitation). The effect of these shock waves, as well as the vibrating tip of the ultrasonic mixer itself, disrupts surrounding covalent bonds of a sample, making an ultrasonic mixer a valuable piece of equipment capable of dissolving a wide range of materials (even gummy bears!).

Ultrasonic Mixers are Easily Controlled

Many variables impact how well a homogenizer does its job. These include size, concentration and temperature of the sample; the shape, speed, amplitude, intensity, pressure and duration of the “agitator;” and the temperature, viscosity and volume of the medium (as well as the type of container that holds it). While these factors can be difficult to adjust when using other types of homogenizers, they are easily manipulated when using an ultrasonic mixer. Indeed, technicians, scientists and manufacturers can easily adjust any or all of these elements in order to enable light or vigorous agitation (i.e., homogenizing) based on the need at hand.

Ultrasonic Mixers Have Fewer Parts

It might not seem like a huge advantage, but having fewer parts means ultrasonic mixers are less difficult to clean and less challenging to repair. Consisting of only a power source, a converter (which transforms electrical energy into mechanical motion) and a probe, a sonicator doesn’t have much to maintain. There is little frictional wear of parts and no intricate parts to clean.

Want to Learn More?

Ultrasonic mixers are just one type of homogenizer. If you need assistance choosing a homogenizer that meets the requirements of your own application(s) and makes the most of your own resources, contact our team at BEE International. Our proprietary and patented equipment addresses a wide range of functions at a reasonable range of costs. Not only do our homogenizers create a tight distribution of small particles, they always scale up and reproduce reliable results. Whether used inline or for batch processing, our homogenizers can be trusted to deliver the finest quality emulsions and dispersions available time after time.

Homogenizer machines provide a number of benefits within a wide variety of industries. Whether used by a multi-million dollar dairy producer or a local boutique cosmetic company or countless types of businesses in between, homogenizers offer advantages that guarantee superior products no matter the application; when the stakes are especially high, they even help save lives. Just consider the pharmaceutical industry, where homogenizers are vital to the production of drugs tasked with maintaining or improving quality of life. In these instances, the value of a homogenizer machine can literally be the difference between life and death. Take a look at three ways homogenizers are used within the pharmaceutical industry:

To Maximize Stability

All homogenizers reduce particle size so that the elements of a substance can be more easily and more thoroughly mixed. In the pharmaceutical world, being able to break apart one part of a drug and completely meld it with another part is especially important because it increases the reliability of potency that good medicines should always deliver. Indeed, a stable (i.e., “invariable”) drug, when liquid, is often an emulsion in which two immiscible fluids have been forcibly combined in some way; they can also be dispersions of small, solid particles that have been mixed with a liquid. Shaking or stirring substances can produce brief periods of either type of mixture, but a homogenizer machine is the best way to effectuate an amalgamation that doesn’t eventually revert to the original states of the individual components. This is particularly significant as it allows manufacturers to guarantee the effectiveness of a drug’s impact while improving taste, appearance and viscosity along the way.

To Enhance Bioavailability

Stable drugs are able to provide greater bioavailabilty of their active ingredients. Their small particles allow a body to absorb a drug more quickly and more easily, thus enabling the drug to work more effectively overall.

To Extend Shelf Life

A homogenizer machine is vital for extending a product’s shelf life. As mentioned above, many energy sources can generate transitory fusion, but homogenizers so firmly reduce the size of and then bond components that any resulting pharmaceutical products they help produce last longer than those made via other mixing methods.

The BEE International Advantage

Homogenizer machines, especially high pressure ones like those designed and sold by our team here at BEE International, are vital to the production of a wide range of products, not least of which include those within the pharmaceutical industry. Our patented Emulsifying Cell (EC) technology incorporates shear, cavitation and impact to break down, mix and blend, helping you create quality drugs that last longer on the shelf and can be easily absorbed for maximum benefit in the least amount of time. If you are looking for a homogenizer machine that can transition you from concept, research and design to clinical trials, FDA approval and, finally, manufacturing, contact a member of our sales team. We can help you determine the right machine for your needs.

Please also download our free eBook, "Advantages of BEE Homogenizers for the Pharmaceutical Industry," for more information on the benefits of choosing one of our proprietary homogenizer machines.

Homogenizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and operate under several different kinds of forces. The ultrasonic homogenizer is a specific type of homogenizer which uses ultrasonic waves and cavitation to force apart and reduce the size of particles (both liquid and solid) within a liquid substance.

The What

Also known as sonicators, ultrasonic homogenizers consist of three parts:

1. A generator, which supplies energy.
2. A converter, which converts and increases electrical energy into mechanical motion.
3. A horn, probe or tip, which when placed into a liquid moves in a rapid fashion and causes bubbles to form. These bubbles expand and contract, breaking apart the surrounding particles (called cavitation).

The Why

Of course, the goal of homogenization is not only to break apart, but to mix, particles. And in this sense, ultrasonic homogenizers hold an advantage, as their stimulation of cavitation so effectively disrupts molecular bonds that the total particle surface area is greatly increased. This is because breaking apart particles creates more particles with more surfaces. And when there is a greater total surface area and a tighter distribution of particles, there is improved opportunity for particle agglomeration and overall improved stability.

Furthermore, ultrasonic homogenizers have fewer parts to maintain and to clean, and they can be customized according to specific amplitude and pressure ranges, making them great choices for scientists and manufacturers wanting complete control over the cavitation process.

The When

Ultrasonic homogenizers can be used to homogenize samples, lyse cells, reduce particle size, extract biological material, refine chemical processes and more, but only with liquid (or mostly liquid) samples. They are appropriate for application in both laboratory and industrial settings and are especially valuable when a sample can’t be stirred, doesn’t require grinding or cutting for processing and won’t be degraded by heat (as high temperatures often result with the rapid agitation of the sonicator tip).

The Who

As mentioned, ultrasonic homogenizers can be used in a wide variety of industries by all kinds of professionals. Life scientists can use them to facilitate sonoporation. Jewelers and opticians can use them to clean their merchandise. Food scientists, agriculturalists and chemists can use them to enhance their "soft goods" processing. Archaeologists can use them to uncover microfossils. Pharmaceutical researchers can use them to produce betters drugs. And these are just a few examples!

Want to Learn More?

Picking the right kind of homogenizer depends on the type of materials with which you work and what you want to accomplish with them. If you need help selecting the right homogenizer for your task, contact our team at BEE International.

Please feel free to also download our complimentary eBook, “7 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cell Lysis Method,” for practical advice on enhancing your time, budget and skills with the right piece of equipment.

There are many types of homogenizers, from the basic kitchen blender and handheld, laboratory dounce homogenizer that use mechanical force to break apart and blend food or other “ingredients” to the numerous kinds of large, industrial homogenizers that rely on pressure to effectively disrupt and mix microscopic components of a sample. There are even ultrasonic homogenizers that use cavitation to produce similar results. But just what does a homogenizer do, you might wonder? How does it work?

While the specifics of how a homogenizer does what it does changes based on the composition of the materials on hand and the proposed intent of the product to be made, the basic premise of what it does is always the same. Thus, despite the fact that there are dozens of different types of homogenizers, all of them basically do the same thing: apply force(s) in order to separate the parts of one substance and thoroughly mix them with the parts of another.

Why Use Homogenizers?

Homogenizers are used to completely mix a solid, liquid or gas into another substance, but they also offer several other key benefits and, thus, are invaluable across numerous industrial, chemical, biotechnological and food manufacturing processes. Specifically, in addition to the aforementioned blending purpose, businesses use homogenizers to reduce the particle size of various types of substances; facilitate the elimination of pathogens in food products (also known as pasteurization); improve the stability, appearance and texture of chemical compounds (including things such as paint, makeup and medications); increase the bioavailability of pharmaceutical products; extend product shelf life; maintain consistent levels of quality; and reduce manufacturing costs.

In short, homogenizers enable companies to guarantee efficacy and efficiency no matter their application. Indeed, some homogenizers achieve results by agitating and stirring. Some do it by crushing and grinding. Others push suspensions through narrow passages, and some use pressure and impact. But regardless of the type of force used, all homogenizers aim to mix together two naturally immiscible substances so that any number of the above benefits can occur.

Ready to Learn More?

Homogenizers do a lot of different things, making them useful tools that foster a myriad of advantages across several separate industries. If you need assistance determining the type of homogenizer best suited to your needs, contact our team at BEE International. Our homogenizers combine high pressure with turbulence, cavitation, impact and shear forces, which, when coupled with our patented Emulsifying Cell (EC) technology, serves to improve manufacturing and laboratory processes and saves you valuable time and money.

And for additional information, feel free to download our complimentary eBook, “How to Achieve Efficient & Consistent Particle Size Reduction." In it, we detail how our proprietary in-line processing technology maximizes particle size reduction in fewer passes and helps you maintain cost-effective manufacturing practices.

Legal cannabis consumption is sweeping the nation. Today, 33 states (including Washington, DC) permit marijuana to be used medicinally, with 11 of them allowing it also to be used recreationally. This doesn’t mean that just anyone can start growing, manufacturing and selling cannabis products in these areas. Strict laws and ordinances exist at both state and local levels that regulate cannabis cultivation, production and distribution. Thus, each cannabis product meant for legal sale in the U.S. must first undergo analysis by a state-licensed lab. These labs test for potency (active amounts of THC and CBD), as well as safety, screening samples for possible contaminants such as pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, residual solvents, bacteria and other possibly harmful analytes. Only if a product meets all compliance requirements is it released for distribution and sale. Take a look at how homogenization helps the cannabis industry comply with state laws so that patients and recreational customers alike have access to high-quality cannabis products:

But First, What is Homogenization?

Homogenization is the process by which the components of a substance are each broken apart into particles that are equal in size and structure and then thoroughly mixed back together. Such a process ensures that a sample maintains the same molecular composition in each of its segments should it ever be divided.

How is Homogenization Used in the Cannabis Industry?

Homogenization is critical for the manufacturing and the testing of cannabis-related products.

Manufacturing

During the production of cannabis products (including, but not limited to, oils, edibles, concentrates, solids and liquids), homogenizers reduce the size of cannabis particles, standardize their composition and disperse them evenly across the final product. Having small, uniform cannabis particles equally distributed throughout a sample guarantees:

• Increased Bioavailability - Small particles maximize surface area and allow for increased dissolution and absorption of the active ingredient by up to 75%.

• Reduced Need for More Active Ingredient - Because more active ingredient is able to be absorbed, less is needed to make an effect.

• Faster User Response - And a better active ingredient that dissolves quickly means users feel a faster response, as well.

• Better Appearance (and Taste, When Applicable) - Properly mixing a product makes it look (and taste) better.

• Longer Shelf Life - Homogenization combines a product’s particles so effectively that they can’t separate, creating goods that last longer.

Testing

Homogenization is also critical for the testing and analysis of cannabis products. In order to assess potency and search for certain analytes, lab technicians must first homogenize a cannabis sample so that all its particles are evenly dispersed and can be trusted as an accurate and reliable representation of the cannabis product as a whole. Properly mixing a sample especially helps labs verify the concentration of cannabinoids and terpenoids, those ingredients that most influence a cannabis product’s overall efficacy. Furthermore, homogenization enables the effective grinding of a sample so that further assay testing can occur.

Want to Learn More?

The burgeoning cannabis industry is strengthened by the homogenization process. To learn how you can use homogenizers for cannabis products, contact our team at BEE International. Our proprietary high pressure homogenizers guarantee cannabis products that are effective, safe and profitable.

You might also like to download our free eBook, “3 Reasons Why High Pressure Homogenization Improves Cannabis Products,” for additional information regarding the value of homogenization for the cannabis industry.

In manufacturing terms, bigger is often better, especially if you’re talking about the equipment that companies need to process the products they sell. Indeed, profitability frequently depends on a company’s ability to meet consumer demand while simultaneously maintaining quality and safeguarding costs. Many accomplish this by utilizing large capacity processing equipment to render bigger outputs in less time. By increasing product volume, decreasing manufacturing duration and maintaining the integrity and reliability of both via automated (not manual) processes, companies in all types of industries can generate bigger financial gains.

For those industries tasked with creating homogenized products, large scale equipment can facilitate better micronization, better mixing and better scalability (i.e., better overall results). If you’ve ever struggled to meet the demands of your customers or to verify the accuracy, efficacy, constancy and consistency of your products, then investing in an industrial homogenizer will likely solve a lot of your problems. Here’s how you’ll know it’s the right time to purchase an industrial homogenizer:

You Have High Product Demand

Industrial homogenizers are created specifically for bulk processing. Whereas laboratory homogenizers are perfectly capable of (and generally preferred for) handling small batch loads, industrial homogenizers can accommodate large quantities of materials, making it easier for companies to process a lot of product in less time. If you’ve moved past the initial research and development stage and have a final product to mass produce, it’s the right time to buy an industrial homogenizer.

You Need Flexibility for Processing

An industrial homogenizer is usually more versatile than a laboratory homogenizer, with advanced options available for tailoring processing functions according to individual need. At BEE International, our industrial homogenizers incorporate our patented Emulsifying Cell (EC) technology, a linear process that guarantees scalability of results each and every run. Our machines also include proprietary software, the “most advanced, reliable, and versatile intensifier technology on the market” and an automation system that allows for continuous operation, advanced data collection and integration with plant controls, generating countless opportunities for customization.

You Want To Minimize Costs

Bigger machines can cost more and warrant more maintenance. However, our DeBEE 4000 industrial homogenizer model comes equipped with hydraulically-driven vertical intensifier pumps that effectively lower maintenance costs and a “unique CIP position [that enables] flow through the high pressure cylinder for faster and more thorough cleaning.” Both of these features help keep our machines running smoothly and cleanly. Oftentimes, smaller homogenizing systems become overstressed trying to accommodate the processing of an unrealistic load. This not only wears out the machine’s mechanics, it requires more labor, more maintenance and probably more repair, all factors that accumulate more expense in the long run. A BEE International industrial homogenizer can mitigate that problem.

You Must Verify Safety Compliance

Manufacturing plants are required to adhere to certain sanitary and safety guidelines. Thus, most industrial homogenizers support compliance with FDA, CGMP and 3-A standards. Our BEE International industrial homogenizers offer this feature, as well as additional ones meant to make cleaning machine parts easier and more effective so that you can adhere to industry standards with minimal disruption to the production process. You should purchase an industrial homogenizer if you are required to verify any trade and/or government guidelines.

Want to Learn More?

Homogenizers are essential expenses for companies needing to homogenize and/or reduce the size of the particles in their product(s). Industrial homogenizers, in particular, can help large companies meet manufacturing demand, validate quality and ensure product stability and performance. All our equipment comes with a two year warranty to further protect your investment, your time and the trust of the people you serve. Contact us to learn more.

In the world of homogenizers, it’s a lot like Shakespeare’s Juliet said: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Depending on where you are and who you are, you might call a homogenizer a sonicator, a lysor, a bead mill, a high shear mixer, a disperser or a tissue tearor. You might even call a standard blender or whisk a homogenizer. Sometimes, people refer to all homogenizers by the brand name Polytron® (much like many call all tissues “Kleenex®”), and sometimes they specify the kind of homogenizer according to the type of force it supplies, like a mechanical, high-pressure or ultrasonic homogenizer. In the end, however, all these names refer to the same basic piece of equipment that is used by laboratories and in industrial processes to disrupt and blend the components of a product.  

But just because there are multiple ways to say “homogenizer,” it doesn’t mean each homogenizing application isn’t specific in some way. Indeed, the preferred way of referencing a homogenizer usually points to how it will be used, making it especially important for you to understand the differences in homogenizing applications.

For instance, in industry talk, a Polytron® homogenizer indicates a specific brand of immersion dispersers, which uses a rotating blade to dissolve solid particles in a liquid substance. Thus, “polytron homogenizer” is often used to reference a homogenizer being used with plant and animal matter in a lab setting. Similarly, “cell lysors” and “tissue tearors” are terms most likely used in biotech applications where it’s important that users maintain the cellular integrity of the products they’re manufacturing and/or studying.

The term “high shear mixer,” on the other hand, is more often used when discussing homogenizing processes for the food /beverage and chemical industries, where the mixing part of the homogenizing process is seen as being more emphasized than the disruption part (whether it’s true or not). In much the same way, you might talk about “bead mills” to indicate homogenizers used in industrial settings since they can accommodate the grinding of solid samples without a liquid.

Want to Learn More?

Choosing the right term to indicate each type of homogenizer is often confusing: Do you need a disperser? Do you call it a polytron homogenizer? And what about bead mills and all the other options? Add in the multiple ways in which each homogenizer can be applied, and you can quite easily become overwhelmed with possibilities! If you need assistance determining the right equipment for your needs, contact our team at BEE International. We offer a range of laboratory, pilot and industrial homogenizers that can effectively provide:  

• High Pressure Pasteurization
• Particle size reduction
• Micro/nano emulsions
• Dispersions
• Cell disruption

Our proprietary and patented Cell Emulsifying System guarantees a customizable combination of homogenizing forces for optimal results and reduced costs. In addition, we offer stellar service, warranty support and preventative maintenance programs, benefits that enable you to maximize your time and resources and enhance the lives of the people you serve.