Crystallization
Crystallization Process and Factors Affecting Crystallization
- Crystallization is the process by which solid forms, organized into a crystal structure.
- Crystals can form through precipitation from a solution, freezing, or deposition from a gas.
- Factors such as temperature, air pressure, and time of fluid evaporation affect crystal attributes.
- Crystallization occurs in two steps: nucleation and crystal growth.
- Loose particles form layers on the crystal's surface and lodge into inconsistencies like pores and cracks.
- The ease of crystallization depends on atomic forces (mineral substances), intermolecular forces (organic and biochemical substances), or intramolecular forces (biochemical substances).
- Minerals and organic molecules generally crystallize easily without visible defects.
- Larger biochemical particles, like proteins, are often difficult to crystallize.
- Crystallization is influenced by temperature, supersaturation, and other operating conditions.
- Polymorphism is the ability of compounds to crystallize in different crystal structures.
Crystallization in Nature and Methods of Crystal Formation
- Natural processes involving crystallization include mineral crystal formation, stalactite/stalagmite formation, snowflake formation, and honey crystallization.
- Snowflakes exhibit different geometries due to subtle differences in crystal growth conditions.
- Nearly all types of honey crystallize.
- Crystallization processes occur on geological and human time scales.
- Crystallization plays a role in the formation of gemstones.
- Crystal formation can involve cations and anions (salts) or uncharged species.
- Methods of crystal formation include cooling, evaporation, antisolvent or drown-out techniques, solvent layering, sublimation, and changing the cation or anion.
- Supersaturated solutions do not always guarantee crystal formation and may require a seed crystal or scratching the glass to induce nucleation.
- Laboratory techniques for crystal formation include dissolution, filtration, washing, and recrystallization.
- Biological molecules often use microbatch crystallization under oil and vapor diffusion methods.
Typical Equipment for Crystallization
- Tank crystallizers are an old method still used in specialized cases.
- Saturated solutions are allowed to cool in open tanks, and the mother liquor is drained and crystals are removed.
- Nucleation and crystal size control are challenging in tank crystallization.
- Tank crystallization is associated with high labor costs.
- Other industrial equipment for crystallization exists but needs further expansion.
Crystallization Dynamics, Nucleation, and Crystal Growth
- Crystals form at lower temperatures through supercooling.
- The release of heat during crystallization increases the entropy of the universe.
- Heating a pure crystal causes it to become a liquid at a specific temperature.
- Melting occurs because the gain in entropy overcomes the loss in enthalpy.
- Crystalline form is regained when the molten crystal is cooled.
- Nucleation is the initiation of a phase change from liquid to solid.
- Primary nucleation occurs when no other crystals are present.
- Homogeneous nucleation is not influenced by solids, while heterogeneous nucleation is.
- Secondary nucleation is the formation of nuclei influenced by existing crystals.
- Fluid-shear and contact nucleation are common methods of secondary nucleation.
- Once a nucleus forms, it acts as a convergence point for solute molecules.
- Growth occurs in successive layers, resembling the rings of an onion.
- The growth rate is influenced by physical factors such as surface tension and temperature.
- Supersaturation value, crystal surface area, retention time, and flow pattern are important factors to control.
- Well-designed crystallizers optimize these values for efficient crystal growth.
Size Distribution and Factors Affecting Crystallization
- The appearance and size range of crystals are crucial in crystallization.
- Large crystals may require further processing.
- Size distribution affects the quality and usability of the crystalline product.
- Controlling size distribution is important for industrial applications.
- The design and operation of crystallizers impact the size distribution of crystals.
- Crystallization is governed by thermodynamic and kinetic factors.
- Impurity level, mixing regime, vessel design, and cooling profile impact crystal size, number, and shape.
- Supersaturation is a fundamental factor in crystallization.
- The difference between actual and theoretical solute concentration is called supersaturation.
- Factors such as temperature and pressure conditions influence solid formation.
Crystallization Data Sources
Reference | URL |
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Glossary | https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/crystallization |
Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystallization |
Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q284256 |
Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/04nkbb |