Agitation and Mixing in Chemistry: Principles, Purposes and Reaction Effects
Agitation and Mixing: Core Definitions
Agitation is the operation of creating violent, irregular motions within a fluid material. Its primary purpose is to ensure particles or molecules of one or more phases are distributed efficiently, achieving desired results in the shortest time and with minimum energy.
If two or more substances, whether miscible or not, receive this movement, the process is called mixing. Mixing aims to achieve a random distribution of these substances or phases.
Overall Aims of Agitation
Overall, agitation aims to:
- Produce and maintain an even distribution of materials undergoing treatment, or increase the speed at which this occurs.
- Produce and maintain an even heat distribution.
- Increase the active specific surface area of