The document discusses high-pressure homogenizers, which are essential for producing consistent emulsions and suspensions in various industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. It details the homogenization process, including mechanisms like cavitation and turbulent eddies, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using high-pressure homogenizers for particle size reduction. Overall, high-pressure homogenization enhances product stability, consistency, and reduces contamination risks while maintaining stringent operational parameters.

1. 1
High Pressure Homogenizer
Dr. Anil Pethe
Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management,
SVKM’S NMIMS, Mumbai

2.  Introduction
 Homogenization Overview
 Homogenization Mechanism
 Homogenizer
 High Pressure Homogenizer
 Working of High Pressure Homogenizer
Contents

3.  In today’s environment, homogenizers are used to produce more consistent
emulsions/ suspension in a high efficiency process.
 A wide variety of homogenizers have been developed to run at different
pressures and capacities depending on the product mixture.
 In addition to product improvements, today’s homogenizers also feature
reduced noise and vibration and reduced maintenance.
Homogenizer

4. Physicochemical Process Occurring during Homogenization

5. Homogenization Overview
 Homogenization is the process of emulsifying two immiscible liquids (i.e. liquids that are
not soluble in one another) or uniformly dispersing solid particles throughout a liquid.
 Homogenization is a unit operation using a class of processing equipment referred to as
homogenizers that are geared towards reducing the size of droplets in liquid-liquid or
solid liquid dispersions.
 The benefits include improved product stability, uniformity, consistency, viscosity, shelf
life, improved flavor and color.
 It has become a standard industrial process in food and beverage, chemical,
pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
 The process of homogenization was invented and patented by Auguste Gaulin in 1899
when he described a process for homogenizing milk.
 Gaulin’s machine, a three-piston thruster outfitted with tiny filtration tubes, was shown
at the World Fair in Paris in 1900. Since then, his name has become synonymous with
homogenization.

6.  High-pressure homogenizers have been used to disrupt microbial cells for many years.
The method has been found to be generally suitable for a variety of bacteria, yeast and
mycelia.
 This type of homogenizer works by forcing cell suspensions through a very narrow
channel or orifice under pressure. Subsequently, and depending on the type of high-
pressure homogenizer, they may or may not impinge at high velocity on a hard-impact
ring or against another high-velocity stream of cells coming from the opposite direction.
 Machines which include the impingement design are more effective than those which
do not. Disruption of the cell wall occurs by a combination of the large pressure drop,
highly focused turbulent eddies, and strong shearing forces.
 The rate of cell disruption is proportional to approximately the third power of the
turbulent velocity of the product flowing through the homogenizer channel, which in
turn is directly proportional to the applied pressure.
 Thus, the higher the pressure, the higher the efficiency of disruption per pass through
the machine.
Homogenization Overview

7. The operating parameters which effect the efficiency of high-
pressure homogenizers are as follows:
 Pressure
 Temperature
 Number of passes
 Valve and impingement design
 Flow rate

8.  In a high-pressure homogenizer, the
dispersion of two liquids (oily phase
and aqueous phase) or finely divided
solids in liquid is achieved by forcing
their mixture through a small inlet
orifice at very high pressure (500 to
5000 psi), which subjects the product
to intense turbulence and hydraulic
shear resulting in extremely fine
particles of emulsion/ suspension.
High Pressure Homogenization

9. Two theories are proposed for high pressure homogenization
 Cavitation theory
 Globule disruption by turbulent eddies (“micro whirls”)
Homogenization Mechanism
1.Cavitation theory
The liquid encounters intense cavitation because of the large pressure drop
through the valve. When the pressure drop is large enough, the vapor pressure of
the liquid exceeds the ambient pressure causing formation of vapor bubbles
(cavities in the liquid).
When the cavitation bubbles implode (collapse of the cavities), shock waves are
generated in the liquid. These shock waves break apart the dispersed droplets.

10.  The theory of globule disruption by turbulent eddies (“micro whirls”) is based on
the fact that a liquid jet is formed at the outlet of the gap.
 As the jet is broken up many small eddies are created.
 Higher pressure equals higher jet velocity that gives smaller eddies and more
energy rich eddies.
 If an eddy hits an oil droplet of about the same size, the droplet will be deformed
and finally break up.
 This theory predicts how the homogenizing effect varies with the homogenizing
pressure.
2. Globule disruption by turbulent eddies (“micro whirls”)

11.  It is most widely used method for preparing
nanosuspensions of many poorly aqueous soluble
drugs. It involves three steps.
 Firstly drug powders are dispersed in stabilizer
solution to form pre-suspensions.
 Secondly the pre-suspension is homogenized in
high pressure homogenizer at a low pressure for
premilling.
 Finally homogenized at high pressure for 10 to 25
cycles until the nano-suspensions of desired size
are formed.
High Pressure Homogenization

12. Advantages of High Pressure Homogenizer
 Low risk of product contamination.
 Allows aseptic production of nanosuspensions for parenteral
administration.
 Particle size may reduced upto 1 nm.
Disadvantages of High Pressure Homogenizer
 Prerequisite of micronized drug particles.
 Prerequisite of suspension formation using high-speed mixers
before subjecting it to homogenization.

13. a. The non-homogenized product enters the
valve seat at high pressure and low
velocity.
b. As the product enters the close (and
adjustable) clearance between the valve
and the seat, there is a rapid increase in
velocity and decrease in pressure.
c. The intense energy release causes
turbulence and localized pressure
differences which tear apart the particles.
d. The homogenized product impinges on the
impact ring and exits at a pressure
sufficient for movement to the next step.
Working of High Pressure Homogenizer

14.  Homogenizers may be equipped with a single valve assembly (single-stage) or two valves
connected in a series (two-stage).
 For most products, a single-stage valve is sufficient. A two-stage assembly, where ~10% of
the total pressure is applied to the 2nd stage, controls back pressure and minimizes
clumping.
 This improves the droplet size reduction and narrows the particle size distribution.
Generally, two-stage homogenization is used for products where high homogenization
efficiency is required.
Homogenization valve Assembly

15. Physical Process inside the homogenization valves

16.  Forcing the of the suspension under pressure through a narrow
aperture valve.
 Dissocubes was developed by Muller et al in 1999.
 This instrument can be operated at pressure varying from 100-1500
bars (2800-21300 psi)
Homogenization in Aqueous media (Dissocubes)

17.  It is the most widely used method for the preparation of nanosuspensions of
many poorly water soluble drugs. Dissocubes are engineered using
Piston-gap-type high pressure homogenizers.
 A commonly used homogenizer is the APV Micron LAB 40. However, other
piston-gap homogenizers from Avestin and Stansted can also be used Gap.
 A high-pressure homogenizer consists of a high pressure plunger pump with a
subsequent relief valve (homogenizing valve).
 The task of the plunger pump is to provide the energy level required for the
relief. The relief valve consists of a fixed valve seat and an adjustable valve.
These parts form an adjustable radial precision gap. The gap conditions, the
resistance and thus the homogenizing pressure vary as a function of the force
acting on the valve

18. Principle of Dissocubes
 In piston gap homogenizer particle size reduction is based on the cavitations principle.
Particles are also reduced due to high shear forces and the collision of the particles
against each other.
 The dispersion contained in 3 cm diameter cylinder; suddenly passes through a very
narrow gap of 25 μm.
 According to Bernoulli’s Law the flow volume of liquid in a closed system per cross section
is constant. The reduction in diameter from 3 cm to 25 μm leads to increase in dynamic
pressure and decrease of static pressure below the boiling point of water at room
temperature.
 Due to this water starts boiling at room temperature and forms gas bubbles, which
implode when the suspension leaves the gap (called cavitations) and normal air pressure,
are reached.
 The size of the drug nanocrystals that can be achieved mainly depends on factors like
temperature, number of homogenization cycles, and power density of homogenizer and
homogenization pressure

19.  The drug suspensions in the non- aqueous media were
homogenized at 0º C or even below the freezing point and hence
are called Deepfreeze homogenization
Advantages :
 Evaporation is faster and under milder conditions.
 This is useful for temperature sensitive drugs.
Homogenization in Non-Aqueous media (Nanopure)