BEE International Blog

Manufacturing cannabis so that it can be used in consumable products is difficult. This is because the chemical compounds (i.e., “cannabinoids”) that are found in the cannabis plant and (generally) responsible for a product’s psychoactive and modulative effects are naturally fat-soluble; it is impossible to mix them with water and/or other ingredients without first finding a way to break them into extremely small pieces. Even then, no cannabinoid will ever be truly water-soluble. Instead, its particles will simply be small enough that they can be mixed into a stable emulsion or suspension and, thus, ready for use. Take a look at the difference between using sonication vs. high pressure homogenization to produce heterogenous mixtures during the production of cannabis oils, beverages, edibles, topical creams and capsules (to name just a few):

Using Sonication for Cannabis Processing

Sonication uses sound energy to disrupt the molecular bonds that hold cells together, causing cells to break into nano-sized particles. It works like this: a probe is inserted into a solution containing the sample. This probe vibrates at a super high speed so that bubbles form in the solution, grow and then burst; it’s a process that simultaneously sends shock waves into the solution, breaks apart the sample and ultimately disperses the resulting particles evenly throughout the solution. While sonication is effective for small batch samples of delicate materials, it is not especially suitable for processing large quantities of certain types of tissues. Many plant tissues, for example, are so tough that it would require a longer duration and higher intensity of force to break down the sample’s cell walls. This often produces heat that causes molecular damage to the sample itself, rendering any subsequent products biologically ineffective.

Why High Pressure Homogenization is a Better Solution for Cannabis Processing

High pressure homogenizers use pressure to break down a sample, forcing it through a series of orifices so that its cellular bonds are eventually broken. BEE International homogenizers, in particular, are able to be customized with a combination of additional forces (shear, cavitation and impact) to further maximize particle reduction, speed processing and lower the time and overall cost of production. In this way, high pressure homogenization (HPH) is a far superior option for cannabis processing. Not only can high pressure homogenizers be used for large batches and with multiple types of samples, they can be set up as part of an inline process, allowing the mixing and homogenization of large volumes of the sample to occur without interruption. Indeed, this continuous flow of operation ensures faster and more consistent results and is a lot more economical than sonication since no additional pieces of equipment or processing steps are needed to produce readily useable cannabinoid nanoparticles.

The BEE International Advantage

The proprietary emulsifying cell technology behind our high pressure homogenizing equipment produces stable nanoemulsions, enhancing the bioavailability of cannabis products by up to 75%; reducing the amount of active ingredient needed for optimal effect; speeding the rate of absorption into the body; extending shelf life; and ensuring consistency and clarity for better appearance and taste! To learn more about the value of using BEE International high pressure homogenizers for cannabis processing, please contact us at this link.

Feel free to also download our free eBook, “3 Reasons Why High Pressure Homogenization Improves Cannabis Products,” for additional information.

Graphene is a form of carbon. It was discovered in the early 2000s and has the potential to literally change the world. But only if it is processed correctly. Keep reading to learn why high pressure homogenizers are the key to improving graphene processing and, thus, crucial to the dawn of an exciting new world of manufacturing possibilities.

What is Graphene?

Graphene is a single, two-dimensional slice of graphite, a form of carbon. (You might remember that graphite is commonly used in pencil lead.) Scientists suspected graphene existed, but it wasn’t until 2004 that two researchers were actually able to isolate it and spur extensive study into its possible uses. And there are many uses because even though graphene is one million times thinner than a human hair, it is 200 times stronger than steel. It is also lightweight, transparent, flexible, highly conductive, and nearly impermeable, making it useful for many different types of applications. What’s especially unique about graphene is the fact that it is only one atom thick, extending in width and length but having no discernible height! Scientists are looking into using graphene in wearable and portable electronics; renewable energy sources; water filters; insulation; sporting goods; semiconductors; industrial lubricants and coatings; adhesives; biomedicine; and more!

How is Graphene Processed?

Using graphene for any application depends on isolating it from graphite. If you consider graphite a stack of towels, then each towel is a layer of graphene and the scientist must separate this stack to isolate a single layer of graphene. He or she must peel one towel off the stack in order to “make” graphene. However, unlike a stack of towels, which has a uniform width and length and a known number of individual components, graphite is irregularly shaped with an unknown number of layers to be revealed. In this case, our scientist must carefully separate each graphene layer from the graphite (or separate each towel from the stack) while keeping its total length intact, never knowing exactly when to stop. It’s not an easy task despite the fact that the first graphene processing tool to be used was simple scotch tape; scientists used tape to peel off layers of graphene from a chunk of graphite and then apply it to a substrate material. When the tape was removed from the substrate, an atom-thick layer of carbon was left behind— graphene! While this method works, separating and leaving behind separate layers of graphene over and over again, it’s neither cost-effective nor scalable for large volume production. Other options, including chemical exfoliation, are like-wise insufficient since they utilize complex processes that risk exposure of and/or contamination by toxic materials and/or take a lot of time and produce poor concentration and low yield. The best graphene processing equipment overcomes the electric forces that hold the layers of graphene together. It exfoliates and reduces the layer of graphene sheets and increases viscosity. A high pressure homogenizer is the best graphene processing tool.

Why BEEI High Pressure Homogenizers Improve Graphene Processing

High pressure homogenizers use pressure to reduce a substance to its smallest individual particles. You might believe that this alone makes them best-suited to shearing off graphene sheets from a larger graphite sample. Graphene processing, however, is a lot more than particle reduction. Reliable graphene processing also renders precise layer counts and enhances the stability of graphene-based nano-fluids, and only BEE International high pressure homogenizers have the patented emulsifying technology (EC) capable of delivering these things. Indeed, the proprietary combination of forces we use in our EC technology ensures not just the smallest particle reduction of any sample, but scalability and high yield, as well. Furthermore, the design of our flexible modular system is easy to use, clean, maintain and service, utilizing a multipass automation system and allowing custom processing for any type of application so that results are always scalable and the integrity of all graphene layers is always preserved. With our equipment, flake graphite can be easily transformed into useable graphene in less time and with less money, enabling you and/or your customers to start using this versatile material and usher in a brave new world of possibilities. Please contact our team at BEE International to learn more about using our high pressure homogenizers for graphene processing.

Cell lysis (also called cell disruption) is a critical part of many laboratory and manufacturing processes. It is the method by which a cell wall or cell membrane is broken so that the cell’s intracellular contents are released. The objective of any cell disruption procedure is to get as much viable material (molecules and other particles of interest) from the cellular fluid so that it can be studied and/or used for other purposes. 

There are several tools that help facilitate cell disruption, including ultrasonication, mechanical grinding, freeze-thawing, osmotic shock and more; however, homogenization is the only cell disruption method that is efficient for the widest range of applications.

What is BEE International’s Homogenization Technology?

BEE International are experts in high pressure homogenization, which is used to break particles apart and to facilitate cell lysis. Specifically, it involves the use of fluid pressure to force a sample — in this case, any type of cell — through a narrow passage of different-sized orifices. As the cell traverses the system, it is acted upon by a variety of additional forces depending on the velocity of the fluid’s flow (which can be manipulated for any type of cellular material, whether it’s plant or animal, algae, bacteria, fungi, etc.). Thus, upon exit from the homogenizing system, each cell has experienced a customizable combination of forces (pressure, turbulence, shear, cavitation, impact and intensity) that has effectively broken it apart and released its intracellular contents in good form.

What Makes BEE Homogenization Technology So Efficient for Cell Disruption?

BEE technology works so well for cell disruption because:

It utilizes a customizable combination of forces that reduces the need for other equipment and steps.

BEE technology supplies constant pressure so that every cell that passes through the pumping system experiences the same combination of shear, cavitation and/or impact forces, which results in reliable, consistent results each and every time. Hard plant cell membranes that are difficult to rupture can be exposed to greater pressure and more force, while animal cells that are often fragile can be treated more gently. This allows manufacturers and scientists to use the same piece of equipment with a greater variety of cell samples.

It is an in-line process

In-line processing is not only more consistent but also saves time, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

It delivers results that are easily repeatable and scalable regardless of volume.

Homogenization technology delivers reliable scale up from the lab to production due to several key features. In addition to having a customizable PLC panel that controls the level of pressure, temperature and other forces used during any one run, BEE homogenizers utilize extremely powerful motors that convert hydraulic power through high pressure cylinders and make it possible to process reliable results no matter the original sample size or volume.

It preserves valuable intracellular contents.

Oftentimes, chemicals or enzymes in the form of detergents and chaotropic agents are used for cell disruption (particularly when extracting proteins), but these chemicals can denature sensitive proteins and/or require removal before the proteins can be used. Homogenization, however, requires no chemical additives; it also generates little heat, which can similarly alter the integrity of intracellular contents. By eliminating the need for chemical detergents and reducing the potential of other harmful by-products (like heat and too much rigor), microfluidization ensures that cell lysis always results in a usable biological sample that most represents its natural form.

The BEE International Advantage

While BEE high pressure homogenizers provide a technology edge for cell lysis, we understand successful manufacturing requires ease of use, reliability and excellent customer service. In short, our homogenizers save our clients money and a lot of time! To learn more about how high pressure/microfluidizer technology works and the specific benefits it can offer you, please contact us.

The ability to manufacture quality products depends on the quality of the materials. And quite often the best materials are the ones with a consistent size and distribution of their particles. That’s because the stable distribution of particles directly impacts the physical and chemical composition of the materials they compose, affecting the ability of those materials to function as needed when coming off a production line. Take a look at three materials where particle size is especially essential for effective production:

Food

Today, the majority of the food we eat is manufactured in some way. It has been altered from its natural state to satisfy safety and storage standards and to provide consumers with reliable products that are good to eat every time we purchase them. In many — probably most — of those instances, manufacturers have had to combine several ingredients in order to make these products. Items such as milk, salad dressings, juices, coffee, flour, chocolate, spices and more rely on equipment that reduces at least one of their ingredients to a very small size because breaking particles into smaller-sized pieces increases the surface area of each particle and provides more opportunity for chemical bonding to take place. More bonds mean better cohesion amongst all the ingredients and an extended shelf life for the final food product. Indeed, with all ingredients of a food item thoroughly mixed, it simply tastes better and lasts longer, and its flavor remains consistent with every bite! Small particles frequently improve the nutritional value of the food, as well, especially when nutrients need to pass through bodily membranes and/or preservatives need to be added to food to keep it safe for consumption. Small particles mean the preservatives are not visibly noticed or tasted and the food is still nutritious and safe to eat.

Take, as an example, milk. When smaller in size, the fat globules in milk stay more evenly dispersed; they don’t float to the top of the milk and settle into a layer of cream. They are also easier to digest when they are smaller, meaning the body is able to more quickly access the milk’s nutrients and put them to use to keep us healthy.

Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Particle size is similarly important in the manufacturing of drugs and pharmaceutical products including but not limited to injectables, tablets, sublingual dissolvables, dermal patches, and creams. By reducing the particle size of the chemical components or “API” within pharmaceutical formulations, it allows them to be easily absorbed by the body, enhancing bioavailability. As pharmaceutical products must meet reproducible standards for drug delivery in both efficacy and dosage accuracy, the importance of consistent particle size during production cannot be understated.

Cannabis Products

Traditionally, cannabis and hemp products go through an extraction process where chemical compound rich oil is isolated from plant matter. This oil is considered hydrophobic, which means it does not easily mix with other water-based products. However, by reducing the particle size of the oil droplets and creating a nanoemulsion, it becomes possible to suspend these submicron oil particles in water-based products for prolonged periods of time.

Similarly to pharmaceutical applications, cannabis and hemp products also become more bioavailable through particle size reduction. The human body cannot readily absorb cannabinoid molecules because they are too large to pass through mucus membranes and enter the blood stream. The body first must digest the cannabinoids and THEN absorb them which is why traditional edibles take so long to take effect.

Cannabinoids that have undergone particle size reduction have quicker onset time, are more consistent in active ingredient dosing, have longer shelf life, and are quickly becoming the gold standard method of consumption among users.

The BEE International Advantage

Particle size and distribution are important aspects to consider during the manufacturing of thousands of products. Food, pharmaceutical ingredients, and cannabis products are just a few groups where particle size becomes critical for ensuring stability, consistency, and effectiveness. One of the most efficient and scalable ways to guarantee a tight particle size distribution across the widest array of industries is through high pressure homogenization.

BEE International manufactures top of the line high pressure homogenizers that provide unparalleled process control and allow the user to manipulate all three forces involved in high pressure homogenization (Shear, impact, and cavitation) for extensive formulation discovery and efficiency optimization.

To learn more about our proprietary Emulsifying Cell (EC) technology, please contact us today.

Pharmaceutical suspensions are dispersions of insoluble solid particles in a suspending (often liquid) medium. They represent a common form of drug delivery, with pharmaceutical suspensions safeguarding the accurate dosage of many insoluble drug ingredients. Of course, pharmaceutical suspensions taste and/or smell better and are more effective when the size of the solid particles are as small and as uniform as possible; small particles that are similar in size can be more evenly packed, making them more stable and a lot more reliable as chemical agents. Take a look at why controlled particle packing improves pharmaceutical suspensions and the type of equipment needed to render the best particle packing results:

Small, Uniform Particles Improve Pharmaceutical Suspensions

Think about mixing together sand and water, and then about mixing together pebbles and water. Which one is easier to do? It’s sand and water, right? The small size of each sand grain makes it easier to mix them all into the water. It also diminishes their weight, allowing them to stay “floating” in the water for a longer amount of time. In much the same way, pharmaceutical suspensions that have smaller particles in them remain stable (i.e., mixed and “useable”) for longer periods since they necessarily delay sedimentation (which would render the drug ineffective and, consequently, useless). Furthermore, smaller particles help to control the delivery of the drug’s active ingredient by evenly dispersing it throughout the suspending medium, ensuring that each dose contains equal parts of all ingredients. Finally, smaller particles work to keep pharmaceutical suspension costs down since the volume of active ingredient(s) of any one product remains constant and can be consistently measured and dispersed during each manufacturing run.

High Pressure Homogenizers Render the Best Particle Packing Results

There are many types of equipment specifically designed to break apart substances. The industry often determines the type used. When making pharmaceutical suspensions, for example, drug manufacturers frequently choose bead mills, rotor-stator homogenizers and/or ultrasonic homogenizers. The problem, however, is that all of these types of homogenizers only use one force each (such as shear, impact or cavitation). Indeed, each piece of equipment has limitations regarding the type of material it can process and the minimum size of particle it can guarantee. Our high pressure homogenizers offered here at BEE International, however, use a combination of agitation, shear, impact , cavitation and pressure to ensure the most versatile range of applications available on the market today.

The BEE International Advantage

The patented and propietary technology of BEEI high pressure homogenizers combines multiple forces to ensure the most controlled particle size reduction processes. Our equipment not only allows pharmaceutical suspension manufacturers to accurately and consistently render the smallest and most uniform particles, but we also deliver the least variance in particle size distribution in the fewest passes. Typically, users realize at least 10% improvement over other conventional HPH in this capacity.  BEEI empowers users to create the most efficient, thus, more affordable, process for their products.

Please contact us to learn how high pressure homogenizers from BEE International improve particle packing so that the pharmaceutical suspensions made with them are longer lasting, safer and more effective than those made with other types of equipment.

There are hundreds — probably thousands or even millions— of reasons to break apart something that’s big into smaller pieces. From facilitating easier transport of active ingredients to encouraging in-depth exploration (and many other reasons in between), reducing a substance into smaller components often leads to more useful — if not just more plentiful — parts. Across multiple industries, for instance, particle size reduction processes enable manufacturers to create products that look and work better than those made without them. The key, however, is picking the right type of particle size reduction equipment; there are many ways to reduce the size of particles in a substance and, as a result, there are many types of particle size reduction equipment. It’s not always easy to know which type of particle size reduction equipment to use. Here’s what you need to know:

There are Many Ways to Reduce Particle Size

There are many ways to reduce the size of a substance’s particles; you can use molecular forces and/or mechanical forces. Unfortunately, molecular forces can alter the chemical composition of a sample, thus affecting the resulting end product’s functionality. Mechanical forces, however, only alter a sample’s physical structure and, therefore, are more often utilized in particle size reduction equipment. Indeed, at a most basic level, particle size reduction equipment depends on at least one of the following mechanical forces:

• Shear — which is similar to cutting with a pair of scissors
• Impact — which is similar to a collision between two objects
• Cavitation — which is similar to the popping of a bubble

(In addition, high pressure can be used to force apart a substance, as well; we’ll get to that in a minute!)

The Type of Force Used Affects Particle Size Reduction

Specific types of particle size reduction equipment utilize different forces, with each offering their own unique advantages and disadvantages. For example:

• Paddle Blenders utilize impact and shear forces to break apart large samples and are particularly conducive to separating living cells from tissue samples but not applicable when extremely small particles are needed.
• Bead Mills utilize impact and shear forces by adding small beads to a sample and agitating them so that they collide with one another (and also the sample), breaking the sample into smaller pieces. Because small traces of the beads might end up in a sample, these type of particle size reduction equipment is not appropriate in certain situations. 
• Rotor Stator Homogenizers utilize shear force to create small (although not nanoscale) particle sizes, but often create a small amount of heat that can degrade a sample.
• Ultrasonic Homogenizers utilize cavitation and impact to create nano particle sizes, but can create a large amount of heat affecting many types of samples.
  
  

Only High Pressure Homogenizers Offer The Widest Range of Manufacturing and Scientific Possibilities

While other particle size reduction equipment makes use of only one or possibly two forces, our BEE International high pressure homogenizers utilize shear, impact, cavitation and high pressure to break apart and reduce the size of a sample’s particles. BEE stands for Best Emulsifying Equipment. Furthermore, our patented emulsifying cell (EC) technology permits the complete customization of forces (including their duration and intensity) used during any one manufacturing or laboratory process, which allows manufacturers and scientists alike the ability to achieve specific results as needed, such as nano emulsions; cell lysis; uniform particle reduction; maximum bioavailability; improved and consistent sensorial and biophysical properties and more!

To learn more about what makes BEE International high pressure homogenizers the particle size reduction equipment of choice, please contact BEE International.

In the pharmaceutical industry, size matters. More specifically, particle size plays a key role in the overall effectiveness and quality of many drugs, medicinal products (like creams and gels), and foodstuffs. All drugs contain elements known as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). And it’s crucial that these APIs have high solubility. Broadly speaking, the smaller the API particle size, the higher the solubility, the higher the bioavailability, and ultimately, the better and more effective the drug is. As such, the process known as micronization has become an integral part of the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. Micronization is the process of reducing the average diameter of a solid substance’s particles.
This leads us to our topic of the day, namely, what is microfluidization and how does it work?

Essentially, microfluidization is a form of micronization that involves the use of fluid pressure to create and apply one or more of the following forces: cavitation, shear and impact to reduce the particle size of a given substance. (It is not the same process as emulsification, which is the combination of two normally unmixable liquids.) Here, we’ll explain in greater detail how microfluidization works and what benefits it can provide for pharmaceutical and foodstuff manufacturers.

The Micronization Process

Particle size reduction through the micronization process can occur in several different ways. Modern manufacturers may utilize one of several types of equipment to reduce the size of the particles in a given substance. Each of these pieces of machinery is designed for different purposes, and businesses may utilize different micronization techniques for different products.

Crushers, agitators, rotary mixers, blenders maybe used for less challenging mixing. Less challenging might mean that the material is easily broken down to smaller particles, has less of a tendency to re-agglomerate, or that the target end product has a wide tolerance of acceptability or that the target particle size in the high micron range. For more challenging applications, homogenizers, sonic mixers, bead mills, grinder and sheer mixes are employed.

For example, pharmaceutical companies may require the use of an ultra-fine grinder to produce nanoparticles in order to improve the bioavailability of a drug. On the other hand, a foodstuffs manufacturer with a less challenging product may be better off using a rotary mixer. What’s more, some businesses may have to use several different forms of micronization equipment to achieve their desired particle size reduction.

Using High Pressure Homogenizers for Microfluidization

High-pressure homogenizers are often an ideal alternative for manufacturers looking to achieve micronization in an accurate, precise, and efficient manner. That’s because –– unlike traditional micronization machinery –– high pressure homogenizers use multiple forces at once to break down and shape APIs and other particles. Here at BEE International, for example, our high pressure homogenizers utilize a combination of forces — including turbulence, shear, cavitation, impact, and intensity — to generate nano-sized particles that can be more easily combined with other particles. What’s more, these forces can be tuned to produce the required results with the most efficient (shortest) process. Though microfluidization was not the principal reason for the creation of high-pressure homogenizers, many businesses prefer to use these homogenizers in the micronization process because of their superior performance capabilities. To sum up, the key benefits of using a high pressure homogenizer for micronization include:

• Tighter distribution of smaller particles.

• Better particle reduction in fewer passes.

• Increased manufacturing efficiency.

• Reduced manufacturing costs.

• Reduce the need for other premixing equipment and steps.

High pressure homogenizers help create products with longer shelf lives, increased bioavailability, and improved sensorial and biophysical properties. Lastly, BEE International high pressure homogenizers possess specialized modular components that can be used for specific purposes. As such, our high-pressure homogenizers are perfectly suited to carry out the micronization process for a wide range of products, from pharmaceutical drugs, to foodstuffs, to sanitary products, and more.

Want to Learn More?

To learn more about high pressure homogenizers, including how and why they are necessary for facilitating the highest quality microfluidization and emulsification processes, please contact our team at BEE International. Our suite of high pressure homogenizing equipment allows a comprehensive range of applications, ensuring our customers the best value and quality in terms of time, money, and result.

You might also like to download our complimentary eBook, “How to Achieve Efficient & Consistent Particle Size Reduction” for additional information and tips.

Reducing large materials into smaller ones is a common and often necessary occurrence in the natural world. From the earth itself eroding to food being digested to rocks being broken into tools, the physical process of reducing something into smaller bits frequently permits advantages (or wonders!) that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Take, for instance, the splendor of the Grand Canyon or the awe-inspiring fact that our bodies can break apart food and air and water into life sustaining nutrients or the many ways humans have made valuable tools from rocks and wood and other resources. Indeed, the world’s very first tool — the hammerstone — was made by ancient hominids and served a purpose not unlike today’s own particle size reduction equipment: to turn something bigger into something smaller.

Modern particle size reduction equipment is categorized according to four basic types:

• Crushers - which break apart large particles into smaller ones
• Grinders - which further crumble crushed particles into powder
• Ultrafine Grinders - which pulverize ground powder into pieces 1-50 micrometers in size
• Cutters - which yield particles of a specific shape and size
  
  

Considering product hardness, consistency and volume (many machines are better suited for certain capacities), companies may use one or more of the equipment types. Many pharmaceutical companies, for instance, opt for ultrafine grinders that can reduce active pharmaceutical ingredients into superfine particles to increase bioavailability. Baby food and soup manufacturers, on the other hand, might need cutting capabilities to ensure that all food pieces in their products are similarly sized. Some manufacturers might use crushing techniques followed by grinding ones or run their products through one system multiple times. It really just depends on the overall purpose of the product being manufactured, the initial ingredient composition and how much money a company has to spend.

With all this in mind, savvy manufacturers started considering the use of high pressure homogenizers as a fifth alternative for businesses in need of particle size reduction equipment. Homogenizers effectively mix together two normally immiscible substances using high pressure. A happy result of the process: homogenizers also reduce particle size! For manufacturers looking to make an equipment investment that not only works, but works across numerous applications, a high pressure homogenizer has become a solid choice. Unlike traditional particle size reduction equipment that only makes use of one type of mechanical force, a high pressure homogenizer utilizes several different ones. And at BEE International, our proprietary system not only uses turbulence, cavitation, high shear and impact to break apart product, it also has modular components that can be customized for specific purposes. Turbulence and cavitation treatments can be altered, shear times can be reduced or lengthened and impact and intensity can be tweaked. So, just want does all this mean? 

The Benefits of Using High Pressure Homogenizers (HPHs) as Particle Size Reducers:

1. HPHs produce tighter distribution of smaller particles.

2. HPHs achieve better particle reduction in fewer passes.

3. HPHs increase manufacturing efficiency.

4. HPHs reduce manufacturing costs.

5. HPHs help create products with longer shelf lives, increased bioavailability and improved sensorial and biophysical properties. 

Want to Learn More?

Homogenizers can be used for a lot more than milk production and laboratory tests. Manufacturers in nearly every industry can use them to accurately reduce product particle size with a flexibility unmatched by other equipment types. Contact our team at BEE International for additional information on the ways a high pressure homogenizer can streamline your manufacturing process, improve your product integrity and benefit your bottom line.

Please feel free to also download our free eBook, "How to Achieve Efficient & Consistent Particle Size Reduction,” for more tips.

Bigger is not always better. For instance, many electronic gadgets that have come out over the past few years have a smaller, more streamlined design. Most people want to lose weight to become smaller. Also, I’m glad pests like spiders and cockroaches are as small as they are.

Multiple industries and manufacturers need to be able to reduce the size of particles to achieve their preferred end-product. It affects a product’s color, taste, chemical reaction, density and more. For example: reduced particle size enables creams and lotions to absorb into the skin more rapidly, which is extremely important in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Key benefits of particle size reduction include:

• Increased dissolution rate

• Improved drug delivery

• Cleaning product health and safety

• Controlled rate of reaction

• Greater sedimentation stability

• Consistent product texture and appearance

• Improved mineral processing 

Preferred Product for Particle Size Reduction

One of the most widely utilized methods for particle size reduction is high-pressure homogenization. It uses 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.

Selection Criteria

How do you know what homogenizer is best for your company’s specific needs? The first consideration is what type of product you need. Which one you select will vary based on whether you want to use it for a specific product or for more general use. identifying the key product(s) you want produce should help guide you in choosing the most suitable homogenizer.

Once you narrow down the product(s), you’ll want to decide what features and capabilities you want in a homogenizer. Depending on whether your product(s) and process requires mechanical forces (like shear, cavitation or impact), high pressure, temperature change or another parameter altogether, you should identify the technical operations needed to make sure you choose the right machine for your needs.

The BEE International Difference

Unlike a hammer mill which uses only one mechanical force (impact), BEE International’s patented homogenization technology utilizes all available mechanical forces. We synergistically combine and fine-tune all available mechanical forces, including turbulence, cavitation, shear, impact and process intensity, to produce the best possible product for you. In addition, we produce a tight distribution of small, uniform particles every time.

Depending on your product, benefits of our products include a longer shelf life, increased bioavailability, improved sensory characteristics and greater productivity along with lower manufacturing costs due to fewer passes. Our laboratory, pilot and industrial homogenizers all produce reliable and consistent particle size reduction. 

Contact us today to see how we can meet your homogenization needs! To learn more about how to achieve efficient and consistent particle size reduction, download our FREE eBook:

As we’ve outlined in recent blogs, homogenization is a process utilized for particle size reduction and works by employing mechanical force to break down particles or droplets in a liquid into smaller and more uniform sizes. The result of homogenization is a dispersion, wherein fine particles of one substance are scattered throughout another substance. Furthermore, dispersions are able to be classified by the sizes of these scattered particles: solutions, suspensions and colloids. In this blog, we’re focusing on the difference between suspension and colloids.

Suspensions

Simply defined as a heterogeneous mixture of two substances in which one is dispersed into the other, suspensions involve particles larger than those found in solutions, typically over 1,000 nm. The bigger particles of a suspension usually settle or separate out of a mixture upon standing or are able to be filtered out, although not through filter paper. Gravity is able to pull the visible particles in a suspension down if undisturbed, and they will stay that way unless being actively mixed. Examples of suspensions include oil and water, dust or soot in air, sand and water and muddy water.

Colloids

Although a heterogeneous mixture of two substances like suspensions, colloids involve particles from 1-1,000 nm that do not separate upon standing and cannot be separated by filtration. The particles in a colloid land in size between those in a solution and a suspension and may be solid, liquid or gas. The two parts in every colloid mixture are its particles and the dispersing medium, and the particles are spread evenly in in the medium, which can also be solid, liquid or gas. Examples of colloids are foams (shaving cream, Styrofoam), gels (gelatin, jelly), emulsions (mayonnaise, lotion), aerosols (fog, insecticide spray, smoke) and sols (shampoo, gemstones).

Even though the particles in a colloid are very small in size, they can be seen through a process called the Tyndall Effect, the effect of light scattering in colloidal dispersion while showing no light in a true solution. This effect is used to determine whether a mixture is a true solution or a colloid.

Colloid mills, like homogenizers, are able to process particle reduction formulations, although each is preferential for certain applications. They are best used for samples comprised of solids immersed in a liquid suspension or a liquid suspended in another liquid because they can enhance the stability and/or reduce the size of suspended particles.

Overview

In summary, following are some of the main differences between a suspension and colloid:

• Particles in a suspension are usually more than 1,000 nm, while those in a colloid range from 1-1,000 nm.
• Unlike those in a suspension, particles in a colloid do not separate when sitting still.
• The particles in a suspension may be separated by filtration unlike those in a colloid.
• Colloids are able to scatter light, but suspensions cannot transmit light.
• Particles in a suspension can be seen by the naked eye, but those in a colloid must be viewed using a light microscope.

BEE International: The Clear Choice for High-Pressure Homogenizers

At BEE International, we not only offer a multitude of high-pressure homogenizers to handle almost any task in a laboratory, pilot plant or industrial setting, we help you sort through the technical jargon to find equipment that best addresses your specific needs. Our line of equipment is suitable for virtually every industry and can work in just about any environment, letting you focus on other important projects. To learn more about our technology and products, please contact us today!

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can break down particles in the best way possible, download our free eBook “How to Achieve Efficient & Consistent Particle Size Reduction” today: