High pressure homogenizers, such as NanoGenizer, prepare nanomaterial by producing high flow velocity through a small orifice, using a specially designed internal fixed geometry under ultra-high pressure (up to 60,000 psi). During the homogenization process, changes in physical, chemical, structural properties occur, and as a result, homogeneous suspension takes place at nanoscale. The pressure of a conventional homogenizer is within 15,000 psi, while a high pressure homogenizer can achieve 30,000 psi, and an ultra-high pressure homogenizer can reach up to 60,000 psi.
The lab-scale microfluidic high pressure homogenizer is designed to offer effective performance in particle size reduction and cell disruption. This equipment utilizes high-pressure microfluidic jet technology and is equipped with modular power and processing units. It is specifically designed for processing rare and valuable samples, featuring a minimum dead volume design and a continuous flow rate capable of processing up to 120 mL/min. The high pressure homogenizer has gained recognition in various nanotechnology applications due to its notable shear rate, excellent repeatability, and scalability.
Figure 1. NanoGenizer microfluidic jet high pressure homogenizer
The core technology of this high pressure homogenizer lies in its interaction chamber with microfluidic jet. The equipment consists of a power unit, which includes the power system, control system, and high-pressure pump system, and a processing unit, which includes the microfluidic diamond interaction chamber, material inlet and outlet, and heat exchanger. The diamond interaction chamber is a specially designed component with fixed Y- or Z-shaped diamond micro-channels. This chamber facilitates the occurrence of high-pressure, high-speed micro-jets that process the samples. By pressurizing and accelerating the samples with the intensifier, the micro-jets can reach speeds of up to 1,000 m/s, exceeding the speed of sound (340 m/s). As the high-speed micro-jets pass through the micro-channels of the diamond interaction chamber, they undergo various physical effects such as high-frequency shearing, high-energy impact, cavitation, and pressure drop. These effects homogenize the material and reduce it to the nanoscale.
The diamond interaction chamber serves as the core area where the high-speed micro-jets generate high shear, high-energy collisions, and other effects. The fixed Y- or Z-shaped diamond micro-channels ensure consistent and repeatable particle size distribution, thereby ensuring accuracy in the homogenization process.
Figure 2: Schematic of the inner structure of single slotted interaction chambers (right: with cooling ports)
Interaction chambers in homogenization unit
