We have measured DMEM as having a viscosity of around 0.0035.
For our experiments, we require to increase its viscosity to the range of 0.006 - 0.007.
We were planning to use Xanthan gum in order to achieve the same.
However, we are unable to find any literature detailing the specific ratios in which Xanthan is to be added so as to achieve this increase.
Are there any rough approximations which can be made so that we have a ballpark figure to proceed with and further fine-tune ?
Hi Sreepadmanabh,
You could, for example, take a look at this paper: J. Rodrigo Velez-Cordero & R. Zenit (2011) J Non-Newt Fluid Mech, 166, pp 32-41. They use a number of different xanthan gum concentrations and have included plots of the rheological behaviour. I didn't check whether their solutions are in the range you're looking for though.
But more importantly, you should realise that adding xanthan gum will influence the rheological behaviour of your solution: at low concentrations it will result in shear-thinning, while at higher concentrations also viscoelastic behaviour will appear.
Would it be a possibility to use something Newtonian, like glycerol instead?
Good luck,
Sita
You can easily put the viscosity exactly at the value you want/need. You will need to make up 2 solutions (different known concentrations) and accurately measure the viscosity of each. Then use the formulas in the attached PDF to obtain the exact viscosity desired. This is a standard way of maintaining solutions of materials and compensating for thickening from evaporation.
And you can't just look up the viscous properties of Xanthan gum, it's a natural product and will vary by the season, rainfall and other factors. You will have to measure test samples for the materials you have.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Engineering
- Chemical Engineering