High Shear Dispersing, Emulsification & Mixing
Mechanical rotor-stator processing is commonly used to blend, mix, disperse, and emulsify materials that do not readily form a uniform mixture. A high shear homogenizer can help disperse solid particles throughout a liquid or combine immiscible liquid phases into an emulsion.
PRO Scientific systems provide bench-scale high shear processing for laboratories developing oils, extracts, emulsions, dispersions, suspensions, formulations, and other products requiring controlled mixing and particle-size reduction.
Homogenizer, Disperser & Emulsifier Applications
Emulsions
Apply high shear processing to combine liquid phases and develop more uniform oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions.
Dispersions
Use a high shear disperser to distribute solid particles, powders, pigments, ingredients, or other materials throughout a liquid phase.
Oils & Extracts
Process oils, botanical extracts, active ingredients, and liquid formulations for laboratory research, product development, and testing.
Particle-Size Reduction
High shear rotor-stator processing can reduce particle or droplet size and improve sample uniformity depending on the formulation and processing conditions.
Nano Emulsifier & Nanoemulsion Applications
A PRO Scientific rotor-stator homogenizer can function as a laboratory nano emulsifier for applications involving the development and refinement of fine emulsions. High shear processing can reduce droplet size and improve dispersion uniformity during formulation development.
Final particle or droplet size depends on multiple factors including formulation chemistry, viscosity, emulsifier or surfactant selection, generator geometry, rotor speed, processing time, temperature, and starting particle size.
For this reason, nanoemulsion results are application dependent. PRO Scientific can help identify an appropriate homogenizer and generator configuration for laboratory-scale formulation and particle-size reduction studies.
How a High Shear Rotor-Stator Disperser Works
A rapidly rotating rotor operates inside a stationary stator containing openings or slots. Material is drawn into the generator, accelerated through the rotor-stator region, and expelled through the stator openings.
The narrow rotor-stator gap and high rotor tip speed generate intense mechanical and hydraulic shear. The material is repeatedly recirculated through the generator, providing rapid mixing, homogenization, dispersion, and emulsification.
What Affects Emulsification & Dispersion Results?
High shear homogenization results depend on more than motor RPM. Important processing variables include:
- Rotor-stator generator design and diameter
- Rotor tip speed
- Rotor-stator gap and geometry
- Starting particle or droplet size
- Viscosity of the formulation
- Processing time
- Sample volume and concentration
- Vessel shape and size
- Generator position within the vessel
- Temperature and formulation chemistry
Generator Probe Selection for High Shear Processing
The generator probe is one of the most important components of a rotor-stator homogenizer. Generator diameter, rotor geometry, stator design, and rotor-stator clearance influence flow, tip speed, shear, and processing performance.
PRO Scientific offers interchangeable Quick Connect Generator Probes for different sample volumes, vessel sizes, viscosities, and processing requirements.
View PRO Generator Probes »Laboratory Homogenizers, Dispersers & Emulsifiers
PRO Scientific offers multiple rotor-stator homogenizer configurations for emulsion, dispersion, oil, extract, and high shear mixing applications.
Homogenizer Package Kits
Complete laboratory homogenizer configurations with compatible motor, generator, and accessories.
View Packages »Hand-Held Homogenizers
Flexible high shear processing for laboratory emulsification, dispersion, and sample preparation.
View Hand-Held »Digital Homogenizers
Digital speed control for repeatable formulation, dispersion, emulsification, and process-development work.
View Digital »Benchtop Homogenizers
Higher-power stand-mounted systems for demanding high shear mixing, dispersion, and emulsion applications.
View Benchtop »Choosing a Homogenizer, Disperser or Emulsifier
The same rotor-stator system may function as a homogenizer, high shear disperser, emulsifier, or mixer depending on the application. Equipment selection should be based on the processing objective rather than the equipment name alone.
Consider sample volume, viscosity, vessel dimensions, starting particle size, desired particle or droplet size, formulation chemistry, processing time, and required throughput when choosing a system.
Emulsion & Disperser FAQs
What is a high shear disperser?
A high shear disperser uses mechanical shear to distribute particles or one liquid phase throughout another. Rotor-stator homogenizers are commonly used as laboratory dispersers because they generate intense localized shear and rapid recirculation.
Can a homogenizer be used as an emulsifier?
Yes. High shear rotor-stator homogenizers are frequently used as laboratory emulsifiers because they can reduce droplet size and distribute one liquid phase throughout another.
What is a nano emulsifier?
A nano emulsifier is equipment used during the development of very fine emulsions with small droplet sizes. High shear rotor-stator homogenizers can be used for nanoemulsion development, although final droplet size depends on formulation, surfactants, generator design, processing conditions, and other variables.
What is the difference between a homogenizer, disperser, emulsifier and high shear mixer?
The terms describe different processing objectives. Homogenization creates a more uniform sample, dispersion distributes particles throughout a liquid, emulsification combines immiscible liquid phases, and high shear mixing applies intense mechanical energy to promote these processes. A rotor-stator homogenizer can perform several of these functions depending on the application.
Related High Shear Processing Resources
High Shear Homogenizers | Rotor-Stator Homogenizers | Generator Probes | Homogenizer Selection Guide | Choosing a Homogenizer
Need a High Shear Disperser, Emulsifier or Homogenizer?
Tell us what you are processing, your sample volume, viscosity, vessel size, starting material, and desired result. PRO Scientific can help identify an appropriate rotor-stator homogenizer and generator probe for your application.