Viscosity Reduction
Viscosity Reduction - Related Videos
08:04
Viscosity of Propylene Glycol Solutions
0 Views •
2023
Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, and it is a useful parameter in the design of efficient product processing and quality control in a wide range of industries. A variety of viscometers are used to obtain the most accurate readings of experimental materials. The standard method of measuring viscosity is through a glass tube viscometer, which...
01:17
Viscosity
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2023
When water is poured into a glass, it falls freely and quickly, whereas if honey or maple syrup is poured over a pancake, it flows slowly and sticks to the surface of the container. This difference in the flow of different kinds of liquids arises due to the fluid friction between the liquid layers and the liquid and the surrounding material. This property of fluids is called fluid viscosity. In this example, water has a lower viscosity than honey and maple syrup. The SI unit of viscosity is...
01:27
Viscosity
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2026
Viscosity is a property of fluids that measures their resistance to flow. It is influenced by factors such as the surface area of contact, the gradient of flow speed, and the fluid's viscosity constant, called the coefficient of viscosity. The coefficient of viscosity, also known as dynamic viscosity, is denoted by the symbol η. It determines the proportionality between the viscous force and the gradient of flow speed.Newton's law of viscosity states that the viscous force on a faster-moving...
02:57
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
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2020
Surface Tension The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
01:19
Viscosity of Fluid
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2025
Viscosity measures the resistance a fluid offers to flow and deformation. It results from internal friction between layers of fluid moving relative to one another. Dynamic viscosity, denoted by the Greek letter mu (μ), quantifies the force needed to move one fluid layer over another. For Newtonian fluids like water and air, the relationship between the shearing stress and the rate of shearing strain is linear, meaning their viscosity remains constant regardless of the applied stress.
FAQs
Three routes change viscosity through different interventions. Dilution lowers the concentration of polymers in the fluid, temperature changes molecular mobility, and mechanical or enzymatic treatment breaks down molecules that contribute to resistance, including DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. These mechanisms let laboratories address flow behavior through concentration, physical, or molecular changes.
DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides are important targets because they can cause high viscosity in biological material. Mechanical treatment physically disrupts these viscosity-causing components, whereas enzymatic treatment breaks them down by a biochemical route. Either approach can make complex samples easier to handle before downstream processing.
Temperature matters because it alters molecular mobility within the fluid. Changing temperature can therefore change how readily a biological sample moves during handling, even when its composition has not been diluted or chemically treated. Controlling this variable is relevant when laboratories need consistent reagent handling or reliable measurements.
Lowering polymer concentration by dilution can reduce the contribution of viscosity-causing material to a sample’s flow behavior. This route changes concentration rather than breaking down the molecules themselves, making it relevant when reduced viscosity could improve pipetting, filtration, or chromatography. The approach is therefore useful for adjusting handling properties before these operations.
A practical workflow begins by selecting an intervention suited to the sample: dilute the fluid, change its temperature, or apply mechanical or enzymatic treatment. The treated material can then be directed into operations such as pipetting, centrifugation, filtration, or chromatography. This sequence links the viscosity adjustment directly to improved sample movement and processing.
Viscosity reduction is particularly useful for cell lysates and other complex biological samples, where difficult flow can interfere with routine processing. Lowering viscosity can support pipetting and centrifugation, while also helping filtration and chromatography. In these settings, the practical outcome is easier movement of sample through handling and separation steps, supporting biomolecule recovery.
Beyond individual sample manipulations, controlling viscosity supports consistent reagent handling and efficient bioprocessing. It also contributes to reliable measurements because changes in flow behavior can affect how materials are handled and processed. Thus, viscosity reduction is relevant not only to isolated laboratory steps but also to repeatable workflows involving biological reagents and biomolecule recovery.