Mixing It Up in Food and Beverage Processing

Mixing and dispersion processes can be described according to several different characteristics. First, what is being mixed: solids with solids, solids into liquids, or liquids with other liquids. In the last case, the liquids may be miscible or immiscible, meaning they either are soluble in each other or not. Oils do not want to mix with water, yet many foods require just that.

Further, mixing processes can be distinguished by how much energy is provided and how it is delivered. Difficult mixing…