Equipment Used in Crystallization

1. Tank Crystallizers
This is probably the oldest and most basic method of crystallization. In fact, the "pot
of salt water" is a good example of tank crystallization. Hot, saturated solutions are
allowed to cool in open tanks. fter crystallization, the mother li!uor is drained and the
crystals are collected. "ontrolling nucleation and the size of the crystals is difficult. The
crystallization is essentially #ust "allowed to happen". Heat transfer coils and agitation
can be used. $abor costs are high, thus this type of crystallization is typically used only
in the fine chemical or pharmaceutical industries where the product %alue and
preser%ation can #ustify the high operating costs.
&. Scraped Surface Crystallizers
n example may be the 'wenson()alker crystallizer consisting of a trough about &
feet wide with a semi(circular bottom. The outside is #acketed with cooling coils and an
agitator blade gently passes close to the trough wall remo%ing crystals that grow on the
%essel wall.
*. Forced Circulating Liquid Evaporator-Crystallizer
+ust as the name implies, these crystallizers combine crystallization and e%aporation,
thus the dri%ing forces toward supersaturation. The circulating li!uid is forced through
the tubeside of a steam heater. The heated li!uid flows into the %apor space of the
crystallization %essel. Here, flash e%aporation occurs, reducing the amount of sol%ent in
the solution ,increasing solute concentration-, thus dri%ing the mother li!uor towards
supersaturation. The supersaturated li!uor flows down through a tube, then up through a
fluidized area of crystals and li!uor where crystallization takes place %ia secondary
nucleation. $arger product crystals are withdrawn while the li!uor is recycled, mixed
with the feed, and reheated.
.. Circulating agma !acuum Crystallizer
In this type of crystallizer, the crystal/solution mixture ,magma- is circulated out of
the %essel body. The magma is heated gently and mixed back into the %essel. %acuum
in the %apor space causes boiling at the surface of the li!uid. The e%aporation causes
crystallization and the crystals are drawn off near the bottom of the %essel body.
"eferences:
0rice, "hris +., "Take 'ome 'olid 'teps to Impro%e "rystallization", Chemical
Engineering Progress, 'eptember 1112, p. *..
3eankoplis, "hristie +., Transport 0rocesses and 4nit 5perations, *rd 6d., 0rentice Hall,
7ew +ersey, 111*, I'879 :(1*(1*:.*1(;
8rown, Theodore $., "hemistry9 The "entral 'cience, <th 6d., 0rentice Hall, 7ew +ersey,
1111,
I'879 :(1*(1&=&:&(<