Bulk Solids Mixing Technology is implemented in industrial processes and is used across fields, from Food to Pharma and from Building Materials to Petrochemical Industry. With our social and economic needs ever increasing with emerging markets and continuous developments. A high effectiveness both in time and efficiency plays an essential role in any business model today. In the feed industry pre-mixes are fabricated adding vitamins, minerals, anti-biotics etc. Industries such as food, feed, and pharmaceuticals all depend on Bulk Solids Mixing Technology Segregation Prevention through Bulk Solids Mixing Technology Fluidization is the result of the introduction of air in a powder (blend) and as a result, finer/ lighter particles rise to the surface of the powder blend or even escape from it, while the larger/ heavier particles accumulate at the bottom of the blend. Sifting is the result of the random walk of smaller particles through a matrix of larger particles thereby concentrating e.g. at the core of a heap whereas the larger particles role to the sides and settle there. When discharging a segregated blend, the powder flows from the core resulting in an initial release of smaller particles followed by the larger ones. Dusting can be another cause of segregation simply due to the fact that during e.g. loading of a bin smaller particles remain in the air for a longer period of time and they will finally settle on top of the blend in the bin, whereas the largest and heaviest particles settle fastest. These three principles can also be used to study and predict the chance of powder blends to segregate and such research set-ups can even assist in ranking different formulations depending on their segregation tendency. To this end, dedicated set-ups are available to research the phenomenon of fluidization segregation and sifting segregation, where differences in density and particle size are typically used as descriptors to identify segregation. Such segregation studies are not only used in evaluating blend formulations and the ranking of them but they can also assist in mixer selection as they will reveal whether e.g. low or high shear mixers will be needed for a certain blend to be mixed effectively. Mixing of bulk solids occurs in many industrial processes and is used across fields, from Food to Pharma and from Building Materials to Petrochemical Industry. With our social and economic needs ever increasing with emerging markets and continuous developments. A high effectiveness both in time and efficiency plays an essential role in any business model today. In the feed industry pre-mixes are fabricated adding vitamins, minerals, anti-biotics etc.
In the pharmaceutical industry, small amounts of an API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) are carefully blended with excipients and fillers. In the food industry, many powdered consumer products result from custom mixed batches; consider instant soup blends, spice blends like hamburger mix, or cocoa powder products.
In the last 30 years, great strides have been made in the field of mixing technology keeping up with the growing demand for flexible use, ease in use (production, maintenance, and cleaning), batch-wise versus continuous operation as well as being able to handle larger batch sizes. Another challenge that is addressed with the technological developments of mixers is the endeavor to create a homogenous blend in powder distribution, keeping segregation to a minimum. With segregation as well as other material effects it is the combination of the scientific study of physical properties of solids and the integration of this knowledge with the technology that is paramount in optimizing production and development.
Segregation or demixing can occur at any stage in the production process, during mixing but also when the mixed blend is transferred by pneumatic transport, stored in a silo or big bag, in general transportation by truck, or other modes of transportation. Segregation can happen in various forms, through fluidization, sifting, and or dusting.