Mixing in general, is defined as a unit operation that involves manipulating a heterogeneous physical system, with the intent to make

it more homogeneous, while liquid mixing is an operation in which two miscible liquid is mixed together until a certain degree of homogeneity is reached. Indicators usually used to indicate good mixing include visual, rate of decay of concentration in the liquid, fluctuations, the rate of transfer of a solute from one liquid phase to another and uniformity of suspension in solid-liquid suspension. (McCabe, 2005) Miscible liquids are mixed in relatively small process vessels by propellers, turbines, or high-efficiency impellers in which it is mixed rather rapidly. Impeller produces high velocity stream, mixing liquid near it due to the intense turbulence. As the stream slows down while sweeping other liquid and following along the wall, there is some radial mixing. The fluid then completes a circulation loop and returns to the eye of the impeller, where vigorous mixing reoccurs. Calculation shows that complete mixing should occur after 5 circulations. Several factors that may affect the movement of liquid in mixing process are: the type of impeller, the characteristics of the liquid, the size and proportions of the tank, baffles and impeller. (McCabe, 2005) There are different types and classifications of impeller, each with their own applications. The basic classification for impeller includes those which circulate the liquid axially (axial flow impeller) or radially (radial flow impeller). Axial flow impellers have blades which make an angle less than 90 with the mixing shaft axis, while radial flow impellers have multiple flat blades mounted parallel to the axis of the mixing shaft. This causes axial flow impeller to draw material from top and discharges it towards the bottom, while radial flow impeller draw material from both the top and bottom and discharges it to the sides. (Steffe, 1996)

Impeller is usually located around 1/6 the liquid level off the bottom. Though in some cases there is provision for changing the position of the impeller on the shaft. For example, for off-bottom suspension of solids, an impeller location of 1/3 the impeller diameter off the bottom is utilized. (Steffe, 1996) The characteristics of the liquid also affect the mixing process, since the high speed stream of liquid generated by the rotating agitator are restrained by the frictional drag force that may be present in a liquid with high viscosity, causing them to be confined near the agitator. (Holland, Brag, 1995)

Sometimes, baffles are also used to prevent vortexing and rotation of the liquid mass as a whole. They are also needed in order to reduce swirling in large tanks with vertical agitator. Although in liquid with low to very low viscosity, baffles may not be or even needed at all. (McCabe, 2005)