Three Common Mixing Classifications In Industrial Mixing

The type of equipment and operations you use for your process will largely depend on the materials used and how the ingredients interact. Mainly divided into three categories:

• A liquid-liquid mix is a mixture formed from two or more liquid components. There are two additional categories in this category: miscible and immiscible mixtures. Miscible mixing is the complete mixing of two substances to form a single substance. Think: non-carbonated beverages with flavorings. Immiscible mixing involves two liquids that do not mix as well as oil and water. When miscible ingredients are used in a mixture, the product is considered homogeneous or has a uniform structure throughout. The process of mixing immiscible liquids does vary by ingredient. However, most immiscible mixtures have a similar goal for their solution: emulsification. Typically, oil or fat particles are turned into tiny droplets using high shear mixing blades and suspended evenly throughout the mixture,

• Solid-liquid mixing is the mixing of liquid and solid substances, usually soluble powders or flakes, but can also be insoluble solids. A solution is created when a solid substance can dissolve into a liquid. Sweetened milk or sugar water fall into this category because they produce a homogeneous mixture. Alternatively, if the substance in the mixture does not dissolve, it can be suspended throughout the mixture. This process is called "solid suspension" and produces a "slurry" of suspended solids components. Wastewater treaters use this technique to suspend heavy metals in solution and extract beneficial components, leaving a "slag" behind. The solids suspension process can be used for a variety of reasons, but usually to create physical and chemical reactions.

• Liquid-gas mixing involves thorough suspension of air bubbles in immiscible liquids. Larger air bubbles can be broken up into smaller ones using a turbine-type impeller, resulting in a larger surface area for gas and liquid contact. You'll be most familiar with products like soda or beer, but these solutions can be used in high-tech or volatile applications in a variety of industries. Something you would think of as "foaming" is usually an example of this process: like soap or whipped cream.

Each application requires a different set of technologies to enable these different forms of mixing. It is important to adjust shear, agitation levels, suspension, dispersion and pumping mechanisms to best help you achieve your final product.

Learn more about important considerations for equipment here.