An Introduction to Homogenizing Processes

The purpose of a homogenization process is to diminish the amount of distribution heterogeneity carried by the constituents of interest in a given lot. This lot may be made of particulate solids, of a pulp with suspended solids, or of a liquid made of one or several phases. There are two kinds of homogenizing processes: Stationary processes , in which the material is not mixed but, instead, cleverly redistributed in such a way that any correlation between the personality of a fragment and its position has been completely, or at least partially eliminated. Bed-blending is the best example of this category, Dynamic processes , all based on mechanical mixing whose principle is to eliminate by force the correlation, introduced by gravity, between the personality of a fragment and its position. In both categories, we may distinguish continuous and discontinuous processes.