The LevMixer™ system is a compact single-use mixing system. The heart of this system is a mixing biocontainer incorporating a bottom-mounted levitating impeller designed for powder-liquid and liquid-liquid mixing applications. The impeller is frictionless and generates no particles.
Introduction
Powder-liquid mixing is a common requirement in biopharmaceutical processing. In this experiment, a LevMixer system was used to prepare various volumes of a typical buffer salt solution, and the mixing times were compared to demonstrate scalability.
Experimental
Mixing system: LevMixer system
Mixing biocontainer: 50 to 1000 L LevMixer biocontainer
Application mixing type: Powder-liquid
LevMixer mixing biocontainers of 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 L were filled to standard capacity with water, and mixing speed was set to 180 rpm. Each biocontainer was then charged with sufficient sodium chloride powder to make an 8.8 g/L (150 mM) solution. Solution homogeneity was monitored via real-time conductivity readings.
Results
Figure 1 shows mixing time as a function of the biocontainer volume. Mixing times ranged from 60 to 210 s, depending on volume. We see that the relationship between working volume and mixing time is a linear one, making for a predictable scalability model.
Fig 1. Mixing time as a function of the biocontainer volume in LevMixer system.
Conclusion
The LevMixer system is well-suited to preparation of buffer salt solutions at scales ranging from 50 to 1000 L. The predictable relationship between volume and mixing time can simplify the scale-up process.
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