Australian engineers have developed what is claimed to be a cleaner, safer and more economical industrial mixer that has important applications for the mining industry. The Soliquid mixer blends solids and liquids in a continuously flowing stream by creating a vortex, but without using any blades or other external parts. The developer of Soliquid, Saurin Technologies, says its new device is especially applicable for mixing carbon and anionic polymers that are used for gold recovery.

The vortex is created by the tangential entry of ingredients - the angle and speed at which they are poured into the vessel. The company also say that Soliquid mixes without causing froth, thereby cutting down on mess, uses 20% less energy than standard mixers, and creates no dust. The lack of external moving parts should also reduce the risk of industrial injury.