How Can VisiMix Help with the Mixing of Solid Particles?

VisiMix is able to calculate the non-uniformity of solids in the axial and radial axis. It is able to calculate other parameters related to solid performance in the sterile vessels to influence the results. It can be used in reactions where the solids are involved, or in crystallization when we get solids and want to control polymorphism and the particle size, agglomeration, and attrition. VisiMix can be used to estimate how long it will take these solids to dissolve in a solvent when we know the solubility and particle size distribution. There are basic calculations that we can use with VisiMix because we know all the previously mentioned parameters, and we know which pure mixing parameters control the interaction between the solids and liquids in the sterile vessels.

Now, how will this be useful to us when we are talking about industry? Let’s look at some examples. For instance, if the reaction rate is controlled by the biphasic reaction—that is, we have solids that are a bit dissolved in the liquid phase—then this material that was dissolved with the solid particle will react with the software to calculate the mass transfer rate and coefficient. This we can compare with the reaction rate, the pure reaction rate, to decide which phenomenon is controlling the process. Both the pure chemical reaction rate and mass transfer rate will always compete with each other. Another example is the following: Say we want to know the estimate, the influence of mixing, the particle size distribution. It becomes very clear that when we are calculating the shear rate and the forces supplied to the media, we’re able to correlate between the shear rate and the particle size and distribution that we’re getting. And, of course, there is polymorphism. In this way, we’re be able to establish what conditions we’ll need to provide the sterile vessel environment that will guide the materials to generate the polymorphism and particle size that we’re looking for.

And if we have some progress with filtration, as in the particle size is very small or we have some attrition, we have big particle size. But after these particles are given time in the sterile vessels, they decrease the particle size average and distribution to lower numbers, lower microns. We’re then able to determine what shear rate we’re applying and how long we’re taking, and correlate this to the different equipment we’re using to generate good results.

So, instead of mixing solid particles via the complexity of the chemical industrial processes, VisiMix software provides complete clarity regarding how these particles interact with each other and with the media during any chemical or physical process to generate the result that we’re looking for. In this article I emphasize the chemical synthesis pathway, but it is exactly the same when we’re talking about formulations or suspensions. All of these are completely a function of the interaction between the materials that we generate in our sterile vessels and are completely connected with the mixing parameters that we apply in our process.