A Comparative Analysis Of Mixing Characterization Methods In Stirred Tanks

A homogenous environment and a rapid response to changing conditions are key requirements for a bioreactor. While there are many effective methods of measuring mixing performance, there is no single, standard method in the bioprocessing industry. It is important to choose a method that will provide the highest quality data and enable effective cross-system comparison of results. This study investigates the four most widely used methods for measuring mixing time, as reported by several major bioreactor manufacturers.

The key criteria for comparing mixing methods include:

• Results: A side-by-side comparison of the qualitative vs. quantitative mixing data collected by each method.
• Accuracy: How data collected with one method compares to data collected with others.
• Repeatability: Data quality and reproducibility of each method, and how many times and how quickly each method can be repeated within the same solution.
• Ease of use: Scalability, logistical needs, and material hazard concerns of each method.