In powder processing, agglomeration is defined as a process of accumulating fine material into cohesive units such as pellets or granules. In simple terms, powder agglomeration shifts fine, powdery particles to a coarser size range that facilitates handling and storage.

Fluidised powders with a pronounced air retention capacity are rather undesirable. They are difficult to process.

Image on the left: Pressure relief device from Rembe. Oxygen is highly reactive and promotes oxidative chemical reactions.

The challenges are:

• Safe cleaning.
• Safe drying.
• Minimal manpower.
• Automated documentation.
• Fastest possible release for production.

Powdery bulk materials can be mixed in a spherical container. The sphere is usually installed in a fixed position. At least one mixing tool rotates in the sphere.

The difference between a ball valve and a ball segment valve is that in a ball segment valve, only the ball cap serves as the closing element.

A bin is a logistical unit for holding, storing and transporting raw materials, semi-finished or finished goods. The aim is to transport products safely, efficiently and in a manner that is easy to handle. Containers are ubiquitous in industry, both for solid and liquid substances. Opposite, you can see an IBC bulk container from amixon^®, which also serves as a mixing vessel.

amixon® manufactures the Gyraton® mixer. The Gyraton® can store up to 100 m³ of bulk material and mix it with high precision. It combines the function of a silo with that of a precision mixer. This is achieved regardless of the material properties: dry, moist, free-flowing, poorly flowing, different bulk densities, different grain sizes, etc.

The boiler flow creates a state of technically ideal mixing in the boiler.

As a rule, there should always be a high filling level in the boiler flow mixer.

Calcination takes place at relatively high temperatures. However, these are below the melting temperature.

Ceramic coatings are characterised by high hardness, wear resistance and chemical inertness.

A chamber filter press is a discontinuously operating mechanical system for solid-liquid separation.

CIP (Cleaning In Place) is a process for the automated cleaning of process equipment. The definition and objective of CIP can be described as follows: Creating clean internal surfaces of a production unit without significantly changing the internal elements required for production. Depending on the water pressure during cleaning, a distinction is made between low-pressure cleaning (up to 3 bar), medium-pressure cleaning (up to 10 bar) and high-pressure cleaning (25-65 bar). The process is sometimes also referred to as "washing in place" (WIP).

A coagulum is a soft, coherent structure similar to the structure of a jellyfish.

The coating process for powder processing is based on the principle of particle agglomeration as a side operation of the powder mixing or fluid bed process. Interparticle adhesion effects of small particles can be particularly large. They result from Van der Vals forces and electromagnetic forces. If the particles are only a few nanometers in size, they can coat active ingredient particles particularly well. Coating attempts to enlarge the mixture particles in a shell-like manner. In short, coating processes optimize properties of a bulk material in terms of shelf life, optical appearance, solubility, dust binding, flow behavior, durability, chemical reaction and much more.

In addition to presses, roller compactors, briquetting machines, extrusion presses and perforated presses, the process of build-up agglomeration also plays a role.

When substances move without mechanical conveying, the concentration gradient acts as a driving force.

Conditioning powders means changing the properties of powders as required.

The term "cone mixer" is used in various ways in process engineering and is not clearly defined. 

A continuously operated mixer is also referred to as a continuous flow mixer.

Flow mixer, continuous mixer, continual mixer for bulk materials:

a) The mixing process takes place in static mixers in which the individual components flow into each other in free fall.

b) Dynamically moving mixing tools mix and convey the components continuously.

The corrosion protection of stainless steels – colloquially known as ‘Nirosta’ – is essentially based on a passive chromium oxide layer.

amixon® has developed special mixing tools that significantly improve the degree of emptying and ease of cleaning.

Liquid nitrogen has a temperature of −196 °C and can cool other substances very efficiently. The phase transition from liquid to gas increased the cooling capacity.

Crystallisation is used for the purification, concentration and recovery of valuable substances in chemical synthesis and rectification.

KoneSlid® powder mixers can be cleaned very easily with a damp cloth. They discharge completely and have numerous inspection doors.

During deagglomeration, particle clusters are separated so that their primary particles are isolated. This can be done both in mixers and in crushing machines.

Diffusion coefficient The diffusion coefficient quantitatively describes the speed at which molecules, atoms or ions are transported in a medium by diffusion.

Dimensional analysis helps to develop calculation formulae on the basis of experiments.

Dispersed agglomerates are often produced during the humidification of dry, fine powders (granulation drum, fluidised bed agglomerator / eddy current mixer).

Dispersing: Definition and importance of the process in mixing technology. A homogeneous dispersion is a bulk material in which the porosity is homogeneously distributed. If agglomerates are present, then they must be broken up until the primary particles are present.

DosiFlap® is a registered trademark of amixon® and refers to a dead space-free shut-off valve that is installed as a dosing and shut-off unit below powder mixers. In contrast to conventional bottom flaps, DosiFlap enables gas-tight and process-reliable shut-off of the product flow even when powder is still being discharged.

A dosing screw is a mechanical conveying device for the controlled discharge of bulk materials. It is used when a defined quantity of a powder, granulate or fine-grained material needs to be dosed precisely in terms of time and quantity - e.g. in mixing, filling or reaction processes.

Double-jacket designs can be varied, e.g.: welded outer jackets in shell form, welded half-pipe coils, structured heat exchanger plates (so-called dimple plates).

Contact drying, convection drying, reaction control, stripping, separation of fluids under pressure-, vacuum excitation and temperature control

Effect pigments are specially developed particles that are used in coating systems – particularly in automotive paints, plastics and cosmetics – to create visual effects such as gloss, colour change (chroma shift) or depth. Unlike classic colour pigments, effect pigments do not primarily work through absorption, but through reflection, refraction and interference of light.

The European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG) is a non-profit foundation founded in 1989 and based in the Netherlands. It brings together food manufacturers, machine builders, research institutes and authorities with the aim of improving food safety through hygienic design and engineering. amixon GmbH is a member.

amixon® has done a lot of groundwork. On the subject of hygiene and complete emptying. Our solutions are called OmgSeal®, ComDisc®, SinConvex®, SinConcave® and KoneSlid®.

KoneSlid® mixers are classic ‘end-of-line mixers’. They can mix in batches or continuously. After the mixing process, they can be completely emptied.

Enthalpy is a thermodynamic state variable that describes the energy contained in a system, including the volume work in relation to the environment.

Cleaning jobs are rarely popular in industry. They are physically demanding and often challenging. Cleaning process machines in particular can be complex. Depending on the design, system parts sometimes have to be dismantled in order to reach hard-to-access areas.

The filling degree describes the ratio of the filled product volume to the available process space of a process engineering machine. This applies in particular to powder mixers.

A nozzle – also known as a connection nozzle, flange, pipe connection or inlet/outlet – is a permanently installed pipe connection on equipment or containers through which substances are fed in or discharged. The design, sealing and mounting options vary depending on the application, industry or standard variant.

Flat-bottom silos are used for solids when the flow behaviour of the bulk materials is poor, when several connections are to be fed with solids at the same time, or when there are structural height restrictions.

Flow aids make an important contribution in all areas of the bulk goods industry. They improve the performance of powder factories and filling plants.

Unlike liquids, which only exert vertical pressure forces on the container wall when at rest, bulk solids also generate shear forces when at rest. This complicates their flow behaviour.

A powder is fluidised when all particles are surrounded by a gas. The powder particles no longer touch each other. The friction between them is eliminated. Fluidised powder behaves like a low-viscosity liquid. The smallest openings in the vessel (such as an incomplete weld seam, leaky fitting) lead to unwanted dust leakage. Fluidisation occurs more easily the smaller the particles are.

Large inspection doors are installed on amixon® mixers. They are free of dead space. Their construction corresponds to the OmegaSeal® design.

In industrial production, food stabilisers are usually manufactured as dry powder mixtures.

Unlike compulsory mixers, free-fall mixers do not have dynamically moving mixing tools that rotate within a mixing chamber.

Freeze-drying removes water from frozen products by sublimation, thus bypassing the liquid phase. The process enables gentle drying of sensitive materials while preserving structure and function but is technically demanding, expensive, and associated with longer process times.

Gas diffusion describes the spontaneous mixing and distribution of gases solely through the random thermal motion of their molecules. It is a fundamental transport mechanism that determines many natural and technical processes – from gas exchange in the lungs to the separation of gas mixtures in industrial plants.

Gaseous scent molecules are odorants that have entered the gas phase and mix with the air. They occur as individual molecules or very small molecular clusters and move freely among the air molecules.

To extend the shelf life of food, microorganisms and enzymes must be reduced.

The term gluten sensitivity describes gastrointestinal and general symptoms after gluten consumption in individuals without coeliac disease or wheat allergy. Due to the non-specific symptoms and overlap with other conditions, diagnosis is mainly based on the careful exclusion of other causes and targeted testing of a gluten-reduced diet.

GMP stands for ‘Good Manufacturing Practice’. These are binding guidelines for quality assurance in the manufacture of medicinal products, active substances, foodstuffs and medical devices. The aim is to manufacture products that are safe, effective and of consistent quality.

For process engineers, particle size distribution forms the basis for assessing miscibility, agglomeration behaviour and product specifications.

Grain stillage is a nutrient-rich residue from ethanol production using grain. It is primarily used as a source of protein and energy in animal feed. Its properties are determined by the type of grain and the process used, and must be taken into account during storage, transport and ration planning.

Primary particles are agglomerated or compacted to form larger grains.

During the granulation process, larger, more easily handled granules are produced from fine powders. Whether dry or wet, in fluidized bed granulation the flow properties, dustiness, and dosability can be adjusted.

The correct term is ‘agglomeration’ or ‘agglomerate granulation’. The term granulation can also describe a comminution process, e.g. when a solid is comminuted into a collection of particles / granules. Please read our detailed glossary article ‘Agglomerating’ and our blog post on ‘Agglomerating’.

Granules are granular bulk materials with defined particle sizes that can be stored, conveyed, and metered well. They are often used where fine powders produce too much dust or flow poorly, and where reproducible handling and dosing accuracy are required.

In process engineering, we distinguish between volumetric dosing of a powder and gravimetric dosing, for example. The latter is generally preferable. It is more complex to implement and requires suitable weighing technology. Gravimetric dosing systems are reproducible and precise. They always work accurately, regardless of the current state of the powder (loose or compacted).

Gravitational acceleration describes how strongly a body is accelerated in the gravitational field of a celestial body. On Earth it is on average about 9.81 m/s² and is a central quantity in mechanics and process engineering when weight forces and gravity-driven motions are calculated.

Whether it's an apple, a person or a planet – everything is determined by the force of gravity. It is the invisible but omnipresent attraction between masses. It acts precisely along the connecting line between their centres of gravity.

amixon® manufactures the Gyraton® mixer. The Gyraton® can store large quantities of bulk material and mix it with high precision. It combines the function of a silo with that of a precision mixer. This is achieved regardless of the material properties: dry, moist, free-flowing, non-free-flowing, different bulk densities, different grain sizes, etc.

HACCP is not a technical component, but rather a conceptual model that is translated into technical requirements. It makes a significant contribution to the manufacture of safe and hygienically sound products. Implementation is particularly challenging but essential in equipment that processes organic powders or active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Half-pipe coils offer similar advantages to dimple plates. In both designs, the thermal fluid can be under high pressure. The forces generated are reliably transferred to the wall of the base vessel by the numerous weld seams. This means that the sheet thickness of the half-pipe coil can be relatively thin.

In addition to the classic helix geometry, amixon® also manufactures special mixing spiral designs known as SinConvex® and SinConcave®. These special designs improve mixing efficiency, especially for difficult-to-mix material systems, while also promoting the self-emptying effect of the mixer. They help to reduce product residues to a minimum and facilitate cleaning of the mixing chamber.

High vacuum refers to an extremely low gas pressure in closed systems. In this pressure range, molecular flow dominates, so many classical flow laws cease to apply.

High-performance ceramic tiles are thin, extremely robust ceramic moulded parts that are used as functional components or reinforcing elements. They combine high wear, temperature and chemical resistance with precisely adjustable material properties.

To improve the efficiency of ceramic processing, the reactants should be mixed homogeneously. However, this is not trivial, as the quantities of raw materials are very large. This is exactly where the Gyraton® mixer can make a valuable contribution. It mixes large batches (up to 100 m³) and guarantees ideal mixing quality. It requires only very small drive motors.

A high-pressure shear homogeniser breaks down droplets or particles under extreme pressure in the homogenising valve to form very fine, stable dispersions and emulsions. amixon® does not manufacture such high-pressure devices, but takes them into account when designing complete process chains.

Die effektive Zerkleinerung von Mikro- und Nanoagglomeraten erfordert hohe Scherenergiedichten. Diese lassen sich durch rotierende Mischsysteme mit sehr hoher Drehfrequenz realisieren

In high-shear liquid homogenization, high shear forces are used to specifically break down and finely disperse droplets, particles, or agglomerates in liquids. It is used when simple stirring processes are not sufficient to achieve the required fineness, stability, or product texture. 

High-tech consumer goods are technologically sophisticated devices and digital services that are used directly by end consumers. They often combine hardware and software. They evolve in rapid innovation cycles and today shape large parts of private everyday life – from the automotive industry to the communications industry to the entertainment industry and home automation.

Thermal processes such as the evaporation of liquids usually result in an increase in viscosity. The same thing happens when a suspension is dried to a powder in a vacuum mixing dryer. Some materials tend to clump together, forming thick lumps. These are highly viscous and tough. amixon® synthesiser reactors/vacuum mixing dryers can handle even these kinds of materials.

Homogenization/ blending/ mixing of bulk materials means the uniform distribution of particle size, moisture, color and temperature of an existing mixture or bulk material.

Homogenizer or mixer?

In solids process engineering, the terms "homogenizing, homogenizer" and "mixing, mixer" are used synonymously. This refers to the dispersion of one substance in another with the aim of achieving as uniform a distribution of all particles as possible. The result is a homogeneous powder mixture. Homogeneity is equated here with the ideal mixing quality of a homogeneous bulk material.

In the HPMC process, cellulose is chemically modified. This produces water-soluble, viscosity-increasing cellulose derivatives for the fields of construction chemicals, pharmaceutical products, and food. 

Hydrophilic means 'water-loving'. Hydrophilic substances attract water, wet well and often dissolve in water. 

Hydroxyethylcellulose is a water-soluble cellulose derivative. It thickens, stabilizes, and forms clear gels in many pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and technical formulations. 

In industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals, hygienic design is a prerequisite for product safety and regulatory compliance. Mixing and processing systems must meet strict hygiene standards to prevent contamination, ensure cleanability, and guarantee reproducible product quality.

An industrial mixer is often the process center of a powder production plant. It homogenizes powders, granules, pastes, or liquids, ensuring consistent product quality.

Inert gas is a chemically inert protective gas that reduces the oxygen content and thus prevents unwanted reactions. It protects products, equipment, and employees from oxidation, decomposition, and explosions.

When inertizing mixers, the Pressure-Swing method reduces the oxygen content exponentially through cyclic evacuation and inert gas pressurization. The achievable residual concentration is determined by the vacuum level and cycle number. The method thus provides a predictable and scalable approach to explosion prevention as well as product and hygiene protection.

The pace of innovation indicates how quickly new technologies and organizational changes are implemented. It determines whether value chains, companies, and entire economic structures can keep up. In the negative case, overload and overwhelm lead to instability and chaos.

Inspection doors on process equipment are highly sophisticated construction elements. They must be manufactured with the utmost care. As they are safety-relevant, they must be locked to prevent incorrect operation.

The instant food processing describes the professional combination of mixing, agglomerating, and drying to produce powder products that disperse finely in seconds, combining taste, functionality, and process stability.

Instant nutrients deliver proteins, vitamins, and other functional substances in powder form. They dissolve clump-free within seconds - enabling precisely dosed nutritional solutions from sports drinks to clinical diets.

The gentler the mixing process, the better a powder can be wetted. In most cases, instant powders need to be dissolved in water. amixon® mixers guarantee gentle mixing. This preserves taste, colour, appetising appearance and nutritional value.

The term "instantisation" is used in connection with the production of foodstuffs and luxury foods. However, in other contexts, such as in IT or general language usage, the term "instantisation" can have other meanings. In this case, it is based on powder technology.

Instantising makes powdery substances quickly wettable, dispersible and soluble on contact with a liquid.

Fein disperse Schüttgüter rieseln nicht, sie kleben aneinander. Sie neigen zur Klumpenbildung. Dies ist besonders kritisch bei sehr kleinen Partikeln.

The isoteniscope method is a physical-chemical measuring method for determining the vapour pressure of a liquid as a function of temperature.

OmgaSeal^® and sterile flange connections should be used where wet cleaning is carried out regularly. The smooth weld seam is by far the most hygienic seal.

KwickKlamp® is a hygienic quick-release fastening system from amixon® that can be operated safely with just one hand.

The Gyraton® mixing technology from amixon® is an innovation in the field of large-scale material processing. It uniquely combines two contrasting requirements: “absolute product protection with excellent mixing quality.” The Gyraton® mixing process meets the highest hygiene standards – even with batch sizes of up to 100 m³.

The company amixon® has developed this innovative mixing system for all types of bulk solids. It enables ideal mixing quality at very low rotation speeds of the helix mixing tool, even with batch sizes ranging from 20 to 100 m³. The technology combines high mixing quality with greatly reduced specific drive power. Compared to classic precision mixers, the drive power can be reduced by 80 to 90 percent. In return, the mixing time is extended by a factor of five to ten. That is, for example, 2 or 3 hours.

Mixers that can be lowered and raised for the purpose of filling and emptying are interesting if the available space offers little height.

The powder mixture must remain free-flowing despite wetting. Free from agglomerates. This makes it easy to dose and fill and ensures long-term storage stability.

The most important lithium derivatives include lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium oxide, lithium chloride and lithium fluoride.

Lump-free mixing in bulk solids process engineering

Dispersive mixing effects in a powder mixer are usually caused by the interaction of macro and micro flows. 

When the possibilities of metal smelting reach their limits, powder metallurgy offers suitable alternatives.

Metal soaps are salts of higher fatty acids with metals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc or aluminium.

Methyl cellulose is produced by reacting alkaline-activated cellulose with methyl chloride.

Microcondensation can be used specifically in an amixon® mixer to minimally wet bulk solids.

Microtracers are usually available as dry micro- or nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution. Due to the low concentrations used, they do not affect the product properties of the bulk material.

Mineral mixtures are concentrated premixes of trace elements and finely ground minerals. They are added in small quantities to food, beverages, baby food, dietetic products and food supplements. They also play an important role in animal nutrition and in numerous soft drinks.

The minimum ignition energy is determined in pressure-resistant test apparatus. A dispersed dust-air mixture is exposed to electrical ignition pulses of varying magnitudes until it deflagrates or explodes.

Hydrophobic powders are difficult to mix with water because high interfacial tensions and low adhesive forces develop. Hydrophilic powders behave differently.

Ideally, the mixing chamber, mixing tool shaft and mixing tools should be fully temperature-controlled.

Mixing technology describes the science and practice of mixing substances. It is a central area of chemical engineering and process engineering. 

The mixer weight refers to the mass of an industrial mixer in its complete structural design. It includes the dead weight of the mixing vessel, the mixing tools, the drive and bearing technology, and the support structures. Operating materials such as gear oils, hydraulic media, or thermal fluids in double jackets must also be added to the mixer weight.

Mixing

Mixing is the distribution of one or more substances in another substance. The substances differ from each other in at least one property. The substances can be solid, liquid or gaseous.

Mixing accelerators are twofold: on the one hand, they are supplementary mechanical tools that intensify the mixing process. On the other hand, they are chemical or physical additives that improve the miscibility of components.

The mixing arm is a central structural element of the powder mixer. It is firmly connected to the mixing shaft. This connection can be bolted or welded. Its primary task is to support the mixing tool. This tool sweeps over the wall of the mixing chamber at a defined distance.

The mixing technology used must be designed in such a way that the quality characteristics of the product are maintained during the mixing process. With an appropriate mixing strategy, some properties can even be specifically improved.

The mixing cycle describes the periodically repeating sequence of a batch mixing process. It begins with filling the mixing chamber with all components involved in the recipe. This filling step can be carried out in sub-steps and is then referred to as multi-step mixing.

In powder mixing, the mixing effect is the ability to rearrange the powder particles so that they are distributed homogeneously in the powder mixture. A high mixing effect is achieved when all areas of the batch are regularly and completely permeated.

Mixing efficiency describes the ratio of the effectiveness of a mixing process to the time or energy required for it. It indicates how effectively a mixer or mixing process reduces existing concentration differences in the product and achieves a specified homogeneity.

The term ‘mixing kettle’ is rarely used in powder mixing. Terms such as ‘mixing room’, ‘mixing vessel’ or ‘mixing container’ are more common.

The efficiency of a mixer and the entire plant increases when they can empty themselves completely. This increases the output, saves raw materials and reduces waste.

The mixing quality describes how evenly several components are distributed in a mixture. The analysis often focuses on a minor component that serves as a tracer and is evaluated as representative of the homogeneity of the entire mixture.

The mixing chamber is the central component of every mixer. It is where all kinds of materials are mixed together homogeneously.

The mixing shaft is the central, load-bearing component of an industrial powder mixer. It is motor-driven and transmits the torque as well as the bending and torsional forces to the mixing arms and mixing tools. Its mechanical design is safety-relevant and of crucial importance for the operational safety of the mixing system.

Liquid: In most cases, parameters such as viscosity, density and data from the shear viscometer are sufficient to describe liquids. For powders, more than 20 measurement data are required.

The aim is to limit the number of mixing trials. The mixing trials are usually carried out in the technical centre of the manufacturer deemed suitable. During the trial, the operating mode customary for the end user is first implemented. This is followed by a trial in accordance with the mixer manufacturer's recommendation. A further approach serves to optimise or confirm. In this way, optimisations can take place. In addition, the robustness of the process can be assessed.

Mixing tools are the directly acting functional elements of powder mixers. They influence the movement behavior of the mixed materials. They determine the achievable mixing intensity. Depending on their geometry and arrangement, they produce different effects. They can work by displacing, scattering, compacting, deagglomerating, or conveying.

The mixing vessel holds the material to be mixed. It is usually shaped in such a way that the rotating mixing tool can mix the entire volume thoroughly.

Mixture phases refer to the successive stages of a mixing process. Different physical and rheological product properties dominate during these stages.

The moisture content describes the proportion of liquid components in or on the solid particles of a powder.

The multi-step mixing method describes a multi-stage process for producing high-quality powder mixtures with defined liquid additions. First, selected powdered components are charged into the mixer. The mixing tool then produces a homogeneous powder mixture. Next, a liquid is added. This is done slowly and in small doses while the mixing tool is running so that the liquid is distributed evenly and no localised over-moistening occurs.

Nanocomposites are composite materials in which at least one phase is present at the nanoscale. Typically, these are nanoparticles, nanofibres or nanoplatelets distributed in a continuous matrix. The matrix can be polymeric, metallic or ceramic. The nanoscale proportion is usually less than a few percent by volume, but has a disproportionately strong influence on the material properties.

Nanodispers refers to a state in which solid particles are predominantly in the nanometre range. Most technical bulk materials are microdispersed. This means that their particle sizes are typically in the range of a few micrometres. One micrometre corresponds to one millionth of a metre and is written as 10⁻⁶ m. For comparison, a human hair has an average diameter of about 60 micrometres.

A nanodisperse liquid is a heterogeneous system in which solid particles with characteristic dimensions in the nanometre range are finely distributed in a continuous liquid phase. Ideally, the particles are present as individual primary particles. In this case, we refer to an agglomerate-free nanodispersion. The production of nanodisperse liquids is energetically and process-technologically demanding.

A nanofoam is a dispersed system containing gas phases in the nanometre range. The individual gas bubbles or pores are typically smaller than one micrometre. They often range from a few tens to a few hundred nanometres.

Nanoporous materials are solids with a pore system in the nanometre range. The pores can be open or closed. Typical pore diameters are less than 50 nm. Nanoporous materials have a very large internal surface area. This can reach several hundred square metres per gram. The large specific surface area results in high adsorption capacity and reactivity. Nanoporous materials are used in high-performance applications in chemistry, energy technology, electrical engineering and engineering ceramics. Typical examples are catalysts, adsorbents, electrode materials and functional composites.

Nickel-based materials are multi-component alloys with a nickel-rich matrix. The most important alloying elements are chromium and molybdenum, which are often supplemented by small amounts of iron, tungsten or niobium. This combination gives the materials very high corrosion resistance to aggressive process media.

Oleochemistry is a branch of the chemical industry that deals with the material use of natural fats and oils. The raw materials used are mainly vegetable oils such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, rapeseed oil and soybean oil, as well as animal fats. Oleochemical processes replace petrochemical raw materials in many applications.

Oleoresin refers to a highly concentrated, usually viscous extract from spices or herbs. It contains both the volatile aroma components and the non-volatile, flavour-giving ingredients of the source material. Oleoresins thus combine essential oils and resinous components in a homogeneous phase.

OmgaSeal^® is a sealing system from amixon^®. It is used in combination with Clever-Cut^® inspection flaps in mixers and reactors. The system is designed to meet the highest requirements for gas tightness, hygiene and mechanical durability.

An orbital cleaner is an automatic wet cleaning system for cleaning the inside of mixers, reactors and process vessels. It is permanently installed in the upper part of a vessel. Cleaning water or cleaning media are fed into an integrated nozzle system at a defined pressure.Orbital cleaner

Organic solventsOrganic solvents are carbon-based chemical compounds that can dissolve other substances physically or chemically. They are among the most important auxiliary materials in industrial process engineering. Their importance ranges from extraction and active ingredient breakdown to chemical synthesis.

The particle size distribution describes the size and number of particles. A dispersed solid system, a suspension or an emulsion can be considered. Sometimes it is also referred to as a grain size distribution. What is meant is the same thing, namely the particle size distribution.

Powder drying removes liquid components from a bulk material. Liquids can adhere very firmly, especially if the powder particles have small pores. These are called capillaries. Capillary-bound liquid is evaporated by thermokinetics.

Powder moistening plays an important role in the process engineering treatment of bulk materials. The mechanisms of wetting are described in the glossary on the amixon website under "Wetting".

Consumer rights are generally monitored at national level. This is to ensure that only products that do not pose a risk are placed on the market.

The terms mixing tool rotation frequency and mixing tool rotation describe the rotational movement of mixing tools. They do not only apply to mixers. The same kinematic relationships also apply to shredders, centrifuges, fans, centrifugal pumps, cutting rotors, cutter heads and rotor-stator systems.

The silo-type mixer primarily performs the task of mixing and is typically designed to fit visually and functionally into a silo concept. It differs significantly from the classic mixing silo, where storage is the primary focus.

Moisture bunkers are indispensable when it comes to the safe handling, temporary storage and demand-oriented dosing of moist, non-free-flowing products. Their design contributes significantly to process stability. amixon develops customised solutions for this purpose that are precisely tailored to the product properties and operational requirements – whether as a simple buffer container or as an integral part of a complex process step such as mixing or drying.

Sodium celluloseSodium cellulose is a reactive intermediate product in cellulose chemistry. It is not an end product, but rather a necessary activation state of cellulose. It is produced when cellulose is treated with concentrated caustic soda. This step is referred to as alkalisation.

The aim of galenics is to prepare active medical ingredients in such a way that they are safe, effective, user-friendly and stable in storage.

Solid-liquid separation can be carried out either mechanically or thermally.

There are inevitably voids between the bulk material particles, which are typically filled with ambient air. In this respect, a two-phase dispersed system is present.

Some powders can be dissolved in liquids. Gases can also be dissolved in liquids. 

Steam sterilisation of powdery goods can be conveniently carried out in the amixon® apparatus. amixon® sterile reactors also serve as vacuum mixer dryers. They are used in particular for powdered goods.

Absolute (medical) sterility can be achieved on request by increasing the treatment time and system pressure. amixon^® also masters these processes and can demonstrate them in its technical centre.

Stoichiometric means that reactants are used in precisely calculated proportions. The proportions are derived directly from the balanced reaction equation. This is based on the law of conservation of mass. The amounts of substance are proportional to the stoichiometric coefficients. There is neither an excess of reactants nor a shortage of reactants. Under ideal conditions, the reaction is complete. The molar ratio corresponds exactly to the stoichiometric ratio.

The term “surface” is of central importance in process engineering. It describes the interface between a solid body and its environment. In mixers, contact dryers, and synthesis reactors, this is the interface between the process apparatus and the product.

The term surface activity describes the ability of a surface to interact with its environment. In particle technology, this refers primarily to the behaviour of particles at their interfaces. As particle size decreases, the proportion of atoms at the surface increases significantly, so that surface effects increasingly dominate over volume effects.

In the context of bulk materials and powders, surface enlargement refers to the comminution of solids. Comminution converts a coarse solid into a large number of smaller particles. As the particle size decreases, the specific surface area, i.e. the freely accessible surface area in relation to the mass of the solid, increases.

Surface protection is a key issue in plant engineering. It is of great economic importance. The majority of load-bearing structures are made of unalloyed or low-alloy carbon steels. These materials corrode in the presence of water and oxygen.

In mechanical engineering, surface quality describes the roughness, waviness and machining texture of a surface. It is closely related to the manufacturing process used.

Please refer to this glossary for the topic ‘Surface’.

amixon® defines three-dimensional total flow as the complete, dead-space-free flow of the entire mixture in the mixing chamber. The result is a statistically random distribution of the dispersed system – ideal mixing quality.

The Laplace transform is a mathematical calculation method for control systems to switch from the "time domain" to the "frequency domain". 

After completion, amixon® agglomerators undergo a balancing treatment. This eliminates both static and dynamic imbalance.

A rotating shaft with imbalance is described by an eccentric mass. This imbalance mass has a magnitude of m_u and a distance e from the axis of rotation. The imbalance product is U=m_u e.

The rough vacuum ranges from 900 mbar to 1 mbar absolute. The fine vacuum extends from 1 mbar to 10⁻³ mbar. The high or ultra-high vacuum refers to absolute pressures of less than 10⁻³ mbar.

This article on the subject of vacuum relates to mixers, vacuum mixers/dryers and synthesis reactors as used in plants in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

A loss-in-weight feeder measures a bulk material flow by measuring the weight loss of the storage container in real time.

amixon® mixers are equipped with programmable cleaning nozzles. They cover the entire mixing chamber in a targeted manner. Particularly dirty areas are cleaned more intensively. This cleaning strategy saves time, water and energy.

Wetting is the physical process in which a liquid comes into contact with a solid surface and spreads across it. An interface is created at the boundary between the liquid and the solid, and its energetic properties determine the wetting behavior.

A V-shaped free-fall mixer is a V-shaped drum mixer that operates particularly gently. It mixes delicate powders and granules by pure gravitational motion, without requiring internal stirring elements.