What’s the Best Way to Lyse Bacterial Cells?

Posted by David Shechter on May 28, 2021 9:10:46 AM

the-benefits-of-a-laboratory-homogenizer-for-cell-lysisCell lysis is the process by which a cell’s membrane is ruptured so that the cell’s contents are released. It can occur naturally (such as when certain viruses cause infections that lead to cell rupture and death) or it can be induced artificially. In addition to scientists who wish to study and experiment with intracellular contents, and thus, must be able to control the cell lysis process, there are multiple industries (including, but limited to, the pharmaceutical, biotech, food and chemical industries) that need to lyse cells in order to make products. To ensure their products’ safety, quality and efficacy, these industries must intentionally disrupt cell membranes according to their own standards instead of waiting on any natural lysis sequences that mayor may not occur. Indeed, one of the most critical components of any manufacturing process is ensuring safety, removing all potentially harmful substances so that the wellness of consumers is always protected. To this end, many industries use artificial cell lysis to remove pathogens, of which some of the most frequently occurring are bacterialcells. The question then becomes: what’s the best way to lyse bacterial cells, essentially killing them and rendering them incapable of causing illness and disease? Here’s the short answer:

Bacterial Cell Lysis is Best Facilitated by BEE International High-Pressure Homogenizers 

While there are several ways to artificially lyse cells (sonication, chemical lysis and traditional homogenization, to name a few examples), there is only one method that is capable of lysing all cell types (including bacterial ones) and that is high-pressure homogenization. Specifically, our high-pressure homogenizers here at BEE International incorporate a patented Emulsifying Cell (EC) technology that combines shear, cavitation and impact forces so that the high-pressure homogenizing process always renders optimal results. Whether used in research, pilot or industrial settings, BEEI high-pressure homogenizers ensure the best processes for bacterial cell lysis because they:

  • Provide accessibility of intracellular proteins for extraction and solubilization.
  • Disrupt all cell types since users can alter pressure, flow and processing time, as well as the amount of cavitation, shear and impact forces, to get the best results for the type of cell they are disrupting.
  • Offer flexibility, allowing easy adjustment for different cell disruption strategies.
  • Deliver high yields in less time, which lowers Total Cost of Operation (TCO).
  • Possess scalable technology, which enables users to elevate from laboratory scale to pilot scale, while achieving reproducible results.
  • Support various sample sizes and permit users to adjust the widest variety of mixing forces.
  • Require minimal training and are easy to use, reconfigure, clean and maintain.

 

Want to Learn More?

To learn more about high-pressure homogenization and why it is the best method for bacterial cell lysis, please contact our team at BEE International. We believe our equipment offers superior quality and provides the best value for researchers and manufacturers alike. Our proprietary processes guarantee that our customers produce high cell rupture yields in the shortest amount of time across the widest variety of cell types. 

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

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Why We Love High Pressure Homogenizers (And You Should, Too!)

Posted by David Shechter on Aug 30, 2018 11:30:00 AM

Love High Pressure HomogenizersIf you were asked about some of your favorite products, a high-pressure homogenizer may not make the list. However, as we’ve discussed in a previous blog, the homogenization process produces a lot of products you most likely use and consume in your daily life. That’s one of the reasons we here at BEE International love homogenizers…but there are more! Let’s take a look at some of the most popular uses of high-pressure homogenization and the benefits they offer consumers.

Particle Size Reduction

High-pressure homogenization utilizes mechanical force to break down particles or droplets in a liquid into smaller and more uniform sizes, resulting in a dispersion, which is where fine particles of one substance are scattered throughout another substance. Dispersions can be further classified into solutions, suspensions and colloids, a mixture somewhere between a solution and a suspension.

Some high-pressure homogenizers can reduce particle size to as small as a single-digit nanometer. Plus, they ensure the composition is equal throughout, and the overall molecular makeup of the sample isn’t compromised. Many high-pressure homogenizers are able to produce emulsions, dispersions and suspensions at particle sizes of 100 µm or higher, and a select few can achieve a size of down to 0.1 µm. Key benefits of particle size reduction include:

  • Increased dissolution rate.

  • Improved drug delivery.

  • Controlled rate of reaction.

  • Increased density.

  • Consistent texture and product appearance.

  • Enhanced sedimentation stability.

  • Improved mineral processing.


Important Applications

Food and Beverages

Though one of the most well-known uses of high-pressure homogenization in the food and beverage industry is for milk, it is also widely used in the manufacture of sauces, spreads, salad dressings, fruit juices and concentrates, fish and meat pâté, sweeteners, baby food, egg product, other dairy products and more. It helps companies utilize to efficiently, cost-effectively and safely produce their goods. Food homogenizers also aid in the delivery of a product with uniform texture, flavoring and taste through a scalable process that allows for a longer period of freshness than food comprised of larger particles.

Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Biofuels

High-pressure homogenizers are used for numerous products from the chemical and biotechnology industries and products such as pharmaceutical tablet coatings, vaccinations and creams. They can be used to create cost effective medicines, modify microorganisms, synthesize new chemicals and develop alternative biofuels.

Cosmetic Creams and Lotions

Due to its ability to provide potent particle size reduction, enriched texture and consistency and strengthened emulsion stability, high-pressure homogenization is a preferred method for improving the production of cosmetic creams, lotions and other cosmetic products. It is especially beneficial for beauty creams and moisturizing lotions because they have to have a combination of the right texture and consistency in order for the skin to be able to effectively absorb them.

RNA Extraction

 Utilizing homogenization for RNA extraction enables processing to be effectively and repetitively processed in only seconds, thereby eliminating heat production. Its force and high pressure produce consistent and uniform samples, and it can process both small and large samples. Plus, homogenizers are scalable and compatible with many sample types, including those with tough cell walls. Using a powerful chaotropic salt solution, RNA extraction purifies RNA from biological samples by quickly disrupting cells or tissue to release the nucleic acids from the cells. These released RNAs are valuable in providing details on which genes are expressed (used to make products), to what degree the genes are active, how they work to regulate each other via small, regulatory RNAs and which structural RNAs (i.e. rRNAs, mRNAs and tRNAs) are produced.

Oil Emulsification

 Due to the fact that water and oil are immiscible, powerful mixing is essential to conducting oil emulsification. Therefore, specialized machines such as high-pressure homogenizers are preferred because they not only impart high shear but also are able to reduce particle sizes much more efficiently than other blending and emulsification methods. They are used in a wide variety of research and scientific uses and by many industries that require the use of active ingredients because they reduce active ingredients to a small enough size to ensure a thorough dispersion throughout the medium produced. Additional benefits of high-pressure homogenization for oil emulsification include production of stable emulsions, improved product consistency, shelf-life, texture, color and flavor and the ability to overcome the resistance caused by two immiscible liquids.

BEE International: Our Love for Our Products Shows in the Way We Treat Our Customers

BEE International offers homogenizers that are both high-quality and reliable. Our line of equipment is suitable for virtually every industry and can work in just about any environment. Contact us today to learn how our products can maximize your homogenization processes.

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Liquid Mixers vs High Pressure Homogenizers: Which Is Right for You?

Posted by Deb Shechter on Dec 6, 2017 11:30:00 AM

liquid mixersIt’s not uncommon for terms or even buzzwords in various industries to be similar but have different applications. For example, in the healthcare industry, electronic medical and electronic health records may sound the same. However, electronic medical records (EMRs) are a digital version of the paper charts in the clinician’s office that contain the medical and treatment history of the patients in one practice, while electronic health records (EHRs) focus on the total health of the patient, provide a broader view on a patient’s care and are designed to share information with other healthcare providers.

Similarly, though the terms “liquid homogenization” and “high-pressure homogenization” appear comparable, each has its own characteristics and primary uses. Homogenization in general can be defined as the reduction of particle size of any given molecule and is a process utilized often in the pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Its benefits include more even particle distribution, improved texture and enhanced appearance and taste.

Liquid homogenization, achieved by using a liquid mixer, and high pressure homogenization offer similar outcomes yet use distinct processes. The mixing processes and mixer designs chosen are determined by the nature of the materials to be mixed. Essentially, the type of product you select for your laboratory depends on its downstream applications and the cell types being used. 

In this blog, we’ll describe the differences between liquid and high-pressure homogenization and list pros and cons of each to help you decide which one is best suited to your business needs. Whichever you choose, it’s important that it has the flexibility to meet the various needs of a laboratory. 

Liquid Homogenization

Widely used for cell disruption of cultured cells and small sample volumes, liquid homogenization requires a sample to manually be forced through a narrow space, thereby shearing membranes and decreasing particle size. There are three most common types of liquid mixers used: the Dounce homogenizer (used for gently lysing single cell suspensions), Potter-Elvehjem homogenizer (used with delicate tissues) and the French press (used for small sample volumes). In addition to being suitable for operation at higher temperatures and easy to maintain, liquid mixers offer enhanced repeatability and a lower power requirement. Nevertheless, the throughput from all three models is fairly low, and they may not provide enough scalability. 

High-pressure Homogenization 

Utilized for numerous products from the chemical and biotechnology industries and products such as pharmaceutical tablet coatings, vaccinations and creams, high-pressure homogenization uses multiple mechanical forces (such as turbulence, cavitation and shear) along with intensive pressure to achieve micronization and membrane lysis. Similar to liquid mixers, high-pressure homogenizers work by forcing cell suspensions through a very narrow channel under pressure. Unlike the manual requirement of liquid homogenizers, though, high-pressure units run automatically and are often made to be scaled from laboratory experimentation to manufacturing.

Benefits of high-pressure homogenization include an increased rate of dissolution, ease of operation, cost and time effectiveness, consistency in composition of products, greater stability of final products due to a stable emulsion and upgraded scalability and repeatability. High-pressure homogenization also has the ability to reduce particle size to levels that are not achievable by most other mixing processes. Because they tend to be large and very heavy, high-pressure homogenizers are typically used for large volume processing and consume more power than liquid mixers. They sometimes require more complex cleaning, cannot handle large particles or high-fiber materials and aren’t the most suitable for high temperature materials. 

BEE: The Industry Leader in High-Pressure Homogenizers

BEE International offers a wide variety of high pressure homogenizers to meet the needs of virtually any industry. Unlike liquid mixers, our homogenizers are suited for large samples and offer large throughputs, making them ideal for laboratory, pilot plant and even industrial use. In addition, our easy-to-use equipment produces higher yield in less time and utilizes multiple forces – shear, turbulence, impact and cavitation – to allow for results that are reliable, repeatable and high quality.

There are plenty of companies on the market to select equipment from; however, the product can be of higher quality and more even consistency when run through top-shelf equipment, most frequently in the form of a homogenizer. BEE International Technologies is trusted by researchers around the world for both our laboratory homogenizers and associated customer support. Learn about how BEE’s products can maximize your homogenization processes by contacting us today. 

For more information on how to choose the right cell lysis method for your application, download our FREE eBook:

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4 Benefits of High Pressure Homogenization

Posted by Deb Shechter on Mar 30, 2017 12:30:00 PM

benefits of high pressure homogenizationHomogenization is an incredibly useful technique that is becoming more heavily utilized in a number of manufacturing industries, including pharmaceutical, biotech, cosmetic, and food. Homogenization is an important step in creating high-quality products that consumers have grown to expect. With benefits including improved taste, texture, and consistency of products – when then translate to increased sales and customer satisfaction – it’s no wonder that more and more industries are clamoring to get a homogenizer of their own! Continue reading to learn about more benefits of high pressure homogenization.

Consistency in Composition of Products

High pressure homogenization allows for an even dispersion of ingredients within a medium; this is incredibly important for the pharmaceutical industry, where active ingredients need to be evenly dispersed within a pill, tablet, capsule, or syrup – and within the cosmetic industry, where customers expect their lotions and creams to have an even texture and appearance.

Increased Rate of Dissolution

Homogenization involves pushing materials through a shaft to create smaller particles; this is especially important in the world of dissolution, where smaller and finer particles facilitate easier dissolution. In the pharmaceutical industry, this impacts both the bioavailability and efficacy of drugs that are produced.

Greater Stability of Final Products

A successfully homogenized product contains particles that are so small and fine that they do not fall out of solution. This is incredibly important to the food and beverage industry – the last thing a customer wants is a bottle of juice that has particles visibly falling out of solution!

Decreased Cost

Another benefit of high pressure homogenization is its ability to not only enhance the safety of products – especially important both in the food and pharmaceutical industries – but to reduce overall costs as well. Effective high pressure homogenization often results in a reduced need for processing chemicals and thermal processing, and can also decrease the potential costs of product recalls.

BEE International: High Quality High Pressure Homogenizers

At BEE International, we take pride in our wide array of homogenizing equipment. We offer an extensive 1-year warranty on parts and labor, with unmatched customer service and training. Our homogenization equipment utilizes the forces of shear, impact, cavitation and turbulence to ensure the highest quality of emulsions, dispersions, and finished product. Our equipment is well-suited for laboratory, research and development, pilot plant, and industrial use. To learn more about our selection of homogenizers, please contact us today for more information.

For more information on particle size reduction and how to achieve efficient and consistent results, download our FREE eBook:

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Dounce Homogenizer vs. High Pressure Homogenizer

Posted by David Shechter on Mar 15, 2017 12:30:00 PM

dounce vs. high pressure homogenizerIn the growing field of biotechology, homogenization – also known as micronization or more simply, particle size reduction – is an important process step in the study of tissues, cells, and other living organisms. However, although homogenization seems like a relatively simple process, it is one wrought with many options, each having their own sets of pros and cons. In this article, we will discuss the differences between two common pieces of equipment used to break down particles in the field of biotechnology – the dounce homogenizer, and the high pressure homogenizer. What are the differences and similarities? What are the pros and cons of each type of equipment? And what does BEE International have to offer in the way of this homogenization equipment? Continue reading to learn the answers to these questions and much more.

Dounce Homogenizers

The Dounce Homogenizer was developed in 1954 by Alexander Dounce, an American biochemistry professor. During his life, he studied the isolation and purification of cellular organelles and enzymes, as well as the chemical basis of protein synthesis. His work on the isolation of organelles, particularly nuclei and mitochondria, led to his development of the Dounce Homogenizer. This homogenizer consists of a glass mortar and pestle that is used to manually grind tissues and cells through the use of shear. This method is strong enough to lyse the cells while leaving more delicate organelles intact. Dounce homogenizers typically use two different pestles, each having a different width. A pestle with a larger width fits more tightly within the shaft of the dounce for maximum friction and cell disruption, while the other smaller pestle is better suited for creating a homogenous sample. While the Dounce homogenizer is easy to clean and sterilize (thanks to its glass construction),  its manual process does not lend itself well for the homogenization of larger amounts of samples.

High Pressure Homogenizers

High pressure homogenizers, similar to dounce homogenizers, also utilize the force of shear. However, these homogenizers use other forces in addition to shear: turbulence, impact, and pressure. High pressure homogenizers, as the name suggest, utilize pressure to force cells through a small orifice, which then shears and lyses the cells in question. This act happens quickly and uniformly, which allows much larger quantities of material to be homogenized at once. High pressure homogenizers, much like Dounce homogenizers, also offer the benefit of easy cleaning and sterilization.

BEE International: Homogenizers for Any Job

At BEE International, we offer a number of high pressure homogenizers to tackle virtually any task in a laboratory, pilot plant, or industrial setting. Please contact us today to learn more about our offerings as well as more information on how we can assist you with your next homogenization project.  

For more information on homogenization and different cell lysis methods, download our FREE eBook:

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High Pressure Homogenizers: How They Help with Chemical Applications

Posted by Deb Shechter on Feb 22, 2017 7:30:00 AM

homogenizers for chemical applications.jpgHigh pressure homogenizers are gaining in popularity among a number of growing industries, including pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, food, and cosmetic. The benefits of this powerful technology are many. However, before purchasing your next high pressure homogenizers, it may be useful to understand more about how this equipment can help with chemical applications. Continue reading to learn more about how high pressure homogenizers help with chemical applications, as well as more information about the homogenizers that BEE International offers in our ever-growing suite of products.

Processing Setups to Address Unique Challenges

High pressure homogenizers are often used to reduce particle sizes of materials in order to create more stable emulsions and dispersions. Furthermore, our technology offers unique processing set-ups to address specific processing challenges. For example, our dual feed technology involves the use of a secondary downstream port, which allows for even the most abrasive and viscous of materials to be processes. Dual Jets allow for multiplication of the impact for size reduction of very hard materials. Finally, our equipment offers high viscosity chemical process equipment solutions, which allows for formulation and dispersion of final products in a single step.

Size Reduction of Challenging Materials: Benefits

High pressure homogenization equipment allows industries to scale up existing processes, perform ongoing pilot production work, and even reduce manufacturing costs through optimization. Other benefits of size reduction of challenging materials includes the ability to not only create new and unusual particle morphologies, but to preserve those particle morphologies. In addition, our one-step blending and formulation process allows for an accelerated chemical process that reduces costs while further optimizing the manufacturing process.

Ideal Dispersions and Finer Particles: Benefits

A high quality high pressure homogenizer allows for high quality emulsions and dispersions to be created. This opens the door to a number of benefits, including maximum particle packing, increase in dense cross sections of final products, better particle coating during formulations, smoother surface quality, finer printed features, and an increase in conductivity.

Products that Benefits from High Pressure Homogenizing Equipment

There are a number of products that stand to benefit from our high pressure homogenizer chemical process equipment. These products include, but are not limited to polymers, acrylic emulsions, urethane prepolymers, solvent-based emulsions, pigment and ink dispersions, carbon nanotubes, additives and resins, and adhesives and pastes.

To learn more about high pressure homogenization, as well as how our equipment at BEE International can help with your processing needs, please contact us today.

For more information on particle size reduction and how to achieve efficient and consistent results, download our FREE eBook:

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Chemical Processing Equipment: How High Pressure Homogenizers Work

Posted by Deb Shechter on Feb 9, 2017 12:30:00 PM

chemical processing equipmentHomogenization is defined as the reduction of particle sizes. This process can be accomplished several different ways, through mechanical, manual, or chemical means. And while high pressure homogenization is quickly gaining popularity in the fields of biotech, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food, it is in the chemical field that the use of high pressure homogenizers is quickly gaining ground over other techniques of particle size reduction.

The use of chemical processing equipment, such as high pressure homogenizers, allows manufacturers in the chemical industry to improve a wide range of materials by creating more diverse reactions. But what other benefits and features do high pressure homogenizers bring to the table? Continue reading to learn more about the unique benefits and features that BEE International’s line of homogenizers bring to the ever-growing chemical industry.

BEE International offers a number of high pressure homogenizers that are suitable for virtually any application in the chemical industry. Our Nano DeBEE, Micro DeBEE, and Mini DeBEE homogenizers are excellent for a laboratory or research and development setting, while the larger DeBEE 2000, DeBee 3000, and DeBEE 4000 work well in pilot plant and industrial settings. No matter which homogenizer you choose, you can rest assured that the unique processing setups offered with our technology can address any number of processing challenges.

Benefits of BEE International High Pressure Homogenizers

In addition to having the ability to create consistent emulsions and dispersions, the technology utilized in our homogenizers allows for even the most challenging of processes to be readily handled. Our dual feed allows for the addition of abrasive and viscous materials, while our dual jets allow for even the hardest of materials to be reduced in size. Finally, our high viscosity chemical process equipment solutions means that final products can be formulated and dispersed in a single step.

Other benefits offered by our high pressure homogenizers include:

  • Size reduction of challenging materials
  • Preservation of existing particle morphologies
  • Densification
  • Purification
  • One-step blending and formulation
  • Increase in dense cross section of final products
  • Increase in conductivity
  • Smoother surface quality
  • Ability to process polymers, pigment and ink dispersions, carbon nanotubes, additives, resins, adhesives, and pastes

To learn more about our high quality, high pressure homogenizing equipment, as well as to receive more information on how our chemical processing equipment can help with the unique needs of your industry, please contact us today.

For more information on cell lysis and how to choose the right method, download our FREE eBook:

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High Pressure Homogenization and Food Production: 3 Key Benefits

Posted by Tal Shechter on Jan 9, 2017 12:30:00 PM

homogenization food industryHomogenization, also known as micronization or particle size reduction, is heavily utilized in a number of industries, including (but not limited to): cosmetic, drug, pharmaceutical, biotech, and food. The process of homogenization offers many benefits to finished goods produced in virtually every industry. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits that high pressure homogenization offers as it relates to food production.

Pathogen Elimination

One of the notable benefits of high pressure homogenization is the elimination of harmful bacteria from food products. High pressure homogenization is becoming an increasingly popular way of eliminating pathogens from food without interfering with taste or quality.  The high pressure of homogenization, along with eliminating bacteria, also works to preserve the food.

Extension of Shelf Life

Another benefit of high pressure homogenization in the food industry is an extended shelf life of food products. The high pressure of homogenization results in improved chemical stability of foods, which allows them to stay fresh for longer, especially with foods comprised of small particles.

Improved Taste, Consistency, and Appearance

Perhaps one of the most important benefits, at least as it relates to consumers, has to do with the improved taste, consistency, and appearance of food that is processed using high pressure homogenization. Juice, milk, and other beverages have shown marked improvements in consistency and viscosity due to high pressure homogenization, which acts to suspend particles during processing.

BEE International offers a number of high quality high pressure homogenizers to meet the needs of virtually every industry. We offer homogenization equipment for laboratory use, pilot plant applications, and full scale industrial manufacturing.

Our homogenizers offer the following benefits and features:

  • CE and cGMP compliant
  • Pharma/Bio/Food sanitary
  • Synchronized pump system for constant pressure
  • Password operated protection
  • Menu guided maintenance and calibration
  • Patented emulsifying cell
  • Guaranteed scalability of results

To learn more about BEE International and how we can aid your homogenization process in the food industry, please contact us today. Our free eBook, “7 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cell Lysis Method” can be downloaded here:

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Alkaline Lysis vs. High Pressure Homogenization: Which is Better?

Posted by David Shechter on Dec 7, 2016 12:30:00 PM

Alkaline Lysis.jpgIn the world of biotechnology – more specifically, the field of molecular biology – the process of lysing cells is an important (and often complicated) task. There are two common methods of accomplishing the goals of lysing cells – alkaline lysis and high pressure homogenization. Continue reading to learn about both methods, as well as which method would work best for your industry’s needs.

Alkaline lysis – also known as alkaline extraction – is the process of isolating plasmid DNA from bacteria. Alkaline lysis is popular due to its ease, speed, and reliability. While methods can vary from lab to lab, the general process of alkaline lysis is as follows:

Spinning Down the Cells

The first step in alkaline lysis involves spinning down the cells in order to concentrate cellular material. This is often done in a centrifuge containing the sample as well as a supernatant.

Discarding the Supernatant and Resuspending the Cells

After the sample is centrifuged, the supernatant is discarded and the desired cells are resuspended in buffer.

Lysing the Cells

After resuspension, the cells are then able to be lysed. The lysing agent – often sodium hydroxide – works to disrupt and lyse the cells.

While alkaline lysis is relatively simple, this method is best suited for smaller scale production and does not offer much flexibility for alternate applications. High Pressure Homogenizers, like the ones offered at BEE International, offer the same speed, ease, and reliability of alkaline lysis, with the following additional benefits:

  • Ability to control pressure in order to lyse a variety of cell types, including more challenging cells such as yeast or fungi
  • Accessibility of intracellular proteins
  • Built-in process flexibility
  • High yields in less time
  • Various sample size processing
  • Rupturing cells without damaging the intracellular materials
  • Better results in fewer passes
  • Scalable results, for both small and large operations

Our equipment is suitable for a variety of applications, from small scale lab use, all the way to larger applications, such as pilot plants and 24/7 manufacturing facilities. Our high pressure homogenizers include the Nano DeBEE, Micro DeBEE, and Mini DeBEE for laboratory use, as well as DeBEE 2000, DeBEE 3000, and DeBEE 4000, suitable for pilot plant and industrial use.

For more information about any of our high pressure homogenization equipment, as well as information on how our products can best suit your needs, please contact us. In addition, our free eBook, “7 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cell Lysis Method” can be downloaded for free here.

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Bead Homogenizers vs. High Pressure Homogenizers

Posted by Deb Shechter on Dec 1, 2016 12:30:00 PM

bead-homogenizer-vs-high-pressure-homogenizer.jpgHomogenization is a large and rapidly growing field, critical to a variety of industries, including biotech, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, chemical, and food. Homogenization involves blending, mixing, emulsifying, dispersing, or otherwise disrupting particles in order to modify their size and ensure even dispersion.

The current methods of homogenization can easily be broken down into three major categories: ultrasonic homogenization, pressure homogenization, and mechanical homogenization. While ultrasonic homogenization has its benefits, most homogenizers fall into the category of pressure or mechanical homogenizers – more specifically, bead homogenizers and high pressure homogenizers. Continue reading to learn the differences between these types of homogenizers as well as how we at BEE International can help you pick the right homogenizer to suit your specific needs.

Bead Homogenizers

Bead homogenizers -- also known as bead mill homogenizers -- can be used for liquids or solids, and work through shear force. With this homogenizer type, samples are introduced into a chamber surrounded by beads. The beads are agitated and work to homogenize the sample by disrupting cells and/or breaking up tissue. Bead homogenizers are great for processing tissue samples for laboratory or R&D use, boast high throughput levels, and are quick.  However, due to the closed system in which bead mills operate, there are sample size limitations, which make these homogenizers impractical for large scale homogenization.

High Pressure Homogenizers

Alternatively, high pressure homogenizers offer an effective way to mechanically disrupt particles on a much larger scale. In high pressure homogenization, liquids are driven through a narrow channel under pressure. Higher homogenization pressure results in a higher efficiency of disruption of cells. Similar to bead homogenizers, high pressure homogenizers work through shear force. However, additional forces come into play with high pressure homogenizers: cavitation, fluid-on-fluid impact, and turbulence. The combination of these forces results in a more thorough and effective emulsification of product.

High pressure homogenizers tend to be much larger and heavier than bead homogenizers; however, the benefits are virtually endless: high pressure homogenizers offer constant, uninterrupted pressure, which eliminates the possibility of contamination. These homogenizers also offer consistent, repeatable results with fewer required passes.

BEE International offers a number of high pressure homogenizers to suit the needs of any industry. Our homogenizers have the ability to be fine-tuned to meet your unique needs:

  • Turbulent premixing can be replaced with a laminar flow
  • Cavitation can be intensified or reduced as needed
  • Shear process time can be adjusted to be shorter or longer
  • Impact can be maximized with our reverse flow setup
  • Process intensity can be increased or reduced

Contact us to learn more about our technology and how our wide offering of high pressure homogenizers can meet your company’s needs.

For more information on cell lysis methods and how to choose the right one, download our FREE eBook:

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