Two stations, many methods
Process two samples in parallel, then adapt the jars, balls or vial holders to the sample and the next analytical step.
THE VERSATILE STARTING POINT
MM 400.
Many possibilities.
Prepare small samples, homogenize biological material and explore mechanochemical synthesis or co-crystal screening with the compact, two-station MM 400 Mixer Mill. Dry, wet and manually precooled cryogenic methods share one adaptable platform.
Configuration examples. Accessories may be optional.
FEED SIZE*≤ 8 mm
FINAL FINENESS*~ 5 µm
FREQUENCY3–30 Hz
SAMPLE QUANTITY*2 × 20 ml
THE MODEL IN FOCUS
Routine preparation & flexible small samples
Repeatable operating conditions
Store 12 SOPs and six cycle programs. Time and frequency calibration supports consistent methods across instruments.
From tissue to mechanochemistry
Bead beating, analytical grinding, co-crystal screening and impact-driven reactions can use the same platform with the right accessories.
HOW IT WORKS
Oscillation.
Impact. Mixing.
Grinding jars oscillate in a horizontal position. The balls’ inertia drives them into the sample at the rounded jar ends. Impact and friction reduce the material while the motion mixes it.
Match ball size, number, jar material, filling level, frequency and time to the sample. Use smaller beads for compatible bead-beating methods; use a validated liquid and dispersion method for wet grinding.
Feed size, final fineness and useful sample quantity depend on the material, tools and operating conditions. Jar volume is not the sample filling volume. The finest result and largest feed or batch are not simultaneous guarantees.
MM 400 MECHANOCHEMISTRY
Mechanochemistry applications
for the MM 400.
The MM 400 Mixer Mill supports mechanochemical synthesis, solid-state reactions and co-crystal screening with small sample quantities. Its horizontal jar motion delivers impact and friction while programmable settings help define a repeatable experiment.
Applications for mechanochemistry
Mechanochemistry uses mechanical energy to drive chemical transformations. Depending on the reaction, milling can reduce or eliminate the bulk solvent used during the reaction stage. Impact-driven mixer milling is one approach; the appropriate energy input and milling method depend on the chemistry.
Small screw-top jars up to 50 ml suit limited research quantities. Programmable frequency, milling time and pauses allow a method to be developed for short experiments or extended runs with total process times up to 99 hours.
- Solid-state synthesis and mechanochemical reaction development
- Co-crystal and co-former screening with small amounts of material
- Parallel experiments using compatible small-jar or tube adapters
- Reaction monitoring with compatible transparent jars and in-situ Raman spectroscopy
PHARMACEUTICAL SOLID-STATE RESEARCH
Co-crystal screening
with the MM 400.
Compare dry milling and liquid-assisted grinding in a controlled small-sample format. The MM 400 can support co-crystallization experiments using compatible steel tubes and adapters.
Evaluate co-crystal formation.
Co-crystal screening investigates whether selected components form the intended crystalline phase together. Milling provides close contact and mechanical energy; the sample composition, ball loading, frequency, time and solvent addition define the experiment.
The MM 400 example uses theophylline and benzamide in a 1:1 ratio. Eight preparations compared four experiments without solvent with four experiments using 20 µl of ethanol. Powder X-ray diffraction was used to evaluate the resulting solid phase.
The reported diffraction patterns agreed closely with the simulated pattern of the target co-crystal, with no significant additional signals reported. This demonstrates the screening approach for that particular system; a different formulation requires its own experimental and analytical confirmation.
Discuss a co-crystallization applicationDEFINE THE OPERATING CONDITIONS
MM 400 calibration.
Confidence in the settings.
Time and oscillation frequency are process variables. Checking them helps laboratories compare preparation methods across runs, operators and locations.
Calibrated time and frequency
The MM 400 is supplied with a calibration certificate for time and frequency, and a periodic calibration service is available. This supports a documented preparation method when a set oscillation frequency or milling duration is important to the result.
Calibration is particularly relevant to pharmaceutical development, laboratories working across multiple locations and quality systems using ISO/IEC 17025 or ISO 9000-series practices. It supports the laboratory’s quality process; instrument calibration alone does not establish laboratory accreditation or validate a method.
Build a reproducible record.
- Record the set frequency, milling duration and pause sequence
- Document jar material, vessel volume, ball size and ball count
- Record sample mass, composition and any liquid addition
- Include cooling or temperature handling in the method
- Keep calibration records alongside the instrument and method history
REPRODUCIBILITY OF MECHANOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
Reproducibility of
mechanochemical reactions.
A study of the MM 400 compared repeat runs, both clamping positions and separate instruments during a mechanochemical reaction.
Compare runs, stations and instruments.
The example reaction combined γ-alumina and zinc oxide to form zinc aluminate: γ-Al₂O₃ + ZnO → ZnAl₂O₄. Trials at 28, 29 and 30 Hz showed why maintaining the selected frequency matters: relatively small changes in frequency influenced the reaction outcome.
Comparisons used five repeated preparations, the left and right clamping stations, and a second MM 400 instrument. Under the tested conditions, the reported diffraction results showed strong reproducibility between repeats, stations and instruments.
The practical lesson is to treat frequency as a defined reaction parameter alongside milling time and loading. A calibrated operating point helps make comparisons meaningful, while analysis confirms whether the desired reaction has occurred.
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE PREPARATION
Biological cell disruption
with the MM 400.
The MM 400 supports biological applications through bead beating and sample homogenization, with adapters for different vial, bottle and tube formats.
Match the vessel to the sample.
Small beads transfer impact and friction to biological material. Compatible methods can disrupt yeast, microalgae and bacteria, or homogenize tissue and plant material for downstream DNA, RNA, protein or metabolite extraction.
Adapter capacities include up to 20 × 0.2 ml vials, 20 × 1.5/2 ml vials, 10 × 5 ml vials, eight 30 ml bottles or eight 50 ml tubes, depending on the selected holders. Vessel capacity is not the recommended working sample volume.
Pre-cooling can help limit warming. Bead material, loading, buffer volume, frequency and duration should be selected around the biological target and the vessel’s mechanical limits.
- Bead beating for compatible microbial cell-disruption methods
- Tissue and plant homogenization with suitable balls and adapters
- Small-vial workflows for nucleic-acid and protein extraction
FUNCTIONALIZING BIOMASS FOR PHARMA APPLICATIONS
Biomass functionalization
for pharmaceutical research.
Mechanochemical functionalization can turn renewable biomass into research materials with different surface properties. Cationic cellulose is one MM 400 application example.
A solid-state functionalization example
In the reported study, cotton fibers were milled with a catalytic base and a small additive before adding the cationizing reagent EPTMAC. Milling activated the solid mixture; a subsequent aging stage completed the functionalization.
The example used a 50 ml stainless-steel jar with three 10 mm balls: an initial five-minute stage at 25 Hz followed by 30 minutes after reagent addition. The material was then aged at 50 °C for 24 hours, followed by Soxhlet extraction and freeze drying.
This distinction matters: the milling reaction avoided bulk reaction solvent, while the downstream purification still included solvent extraction. Evaluate the full process when comparing solvent use, energy or waste.
BUILD THE RIGHT SETUP
The tools make the method.
Select jars, balls and supporting accessories around your material and analysis. Confirm the complete configuration and what is included in the quotation.
Grinding jars & balls
Screw-top jars from 1.5 to 50 ml. Choose hardened steel, stainless steel, tungsten carbide, agate, zirconium oxide, PTFE or PMMA to suit wear limits and chemistry.
Vial & tube adapters
Adapters support small reaction vials, larger bottles and centrifuge tubes. Up to 20 × 2 ml vials can be processed with the appropriate configuration.
CryoKit
Optional insulated containers, tongs and safety glasses support manual pre-cooling of compatible closed stainless-steel jars. The mill has no automatic nitrogen supply.
Multiple small jars
Compatible adapters accommodate four 5 ml steel jars per station, allowing up to eight small preparations in one run.
MATERIALS & APPLICATIONS
Start with the sample.
- Food & feed
- Soil & minerals
- Plant material
- Tissue homogenization
- Cell disruption
- Mechanochemistry
TECHNICAL DATA
A closer look at MM 400.
| Grinding stations | 2 |
|---|---|
| Maximum feed size* | ≤ 8 mm |
| Final fineness* | ~ 5 µm |
| Useful sample quantity* | 2 × 20 ml |
| Nominal jar volume | 1.5–50 ml |
| Vibrational frequency | 3–30 Hz |
| Temperature approach | Manual pre-cooling with compatible steel jars |
View additional technical specifications
| Feed material | hard, medium-hard, soft, brittle, elastic, fibrous |
|---|---|
| Size reduction principle | impact, friction |
| Material feed size* | <= 8 mm |
| Final fineness* | ~ 5 µm |
| Batch size / feed quantity* | max. 2 x 20 ml |
| No. of grinding stations | 2 |
| Vibrational frequency | 3 – 30 Hz (180 – 1800 min-1) |
| Typical mean grinding time | 30 s – 2 min |
| Maximum total grinding time | 99 h |
| Dry grinding | yes |
| Wet grinding | yes |
| Cryogenic grinding | yes |
| Cell disruption with reaction vials | yes, up to 20 x 2.0 ml |
| Self-centering clamping device | yes |
| Type of grinding jars | screw top design |
| Material of grinding tools | hardened steel, stainless steel, tungsten carbide, agate, zirconium oxide, PTFE, PMMA |
| Grinding jar sizes | 1.5 ml / 5 ml / 10 ml / 25 ml / 35 ml / 50ml |
| Setting of grinding time | digital, 10 s – 8 h |
| Storable SOPs | 12 |
| Storable cycle programs | 6 |
| Electrical supply data | 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Power connection | 1-phase |
| Protection code | IP 30 |
| Power consumption | 165W |
| W x H x D closed | 385 x 350 x 470 mm |
| Net weight | ~ 27,5 kg |
*Feed size, final fineness and useful sample quantity depend on the material, tools and operating conditions. Jar volume is not the sample filling volume. The finest result and largest feed or batch are not simultaneous guarantees.
EXPLORE THE FAMILY
A different priority?
MM 500 vario
Parallel batches & biological sample throughput
MM 500 nano
Ultrafine wet grinding & high-energy research
CryoMill
Automatic cooling. More useful sample preparation.
MM 500 control
Monitored heating, cooling & temperature-sensitive methods
YOUR MATERIAL. YOUR NEXT STEP.
Put the process
to the material test.
Tell us what you’re processing and what needs to change. We’ll help define the equipment, accessories and a useful trial.
- Material and starting particle size
- Target fineness and required quantity
- Temperature, purity and cleaning requirements