Nucleation Control: Microwave, Ultrasound and Laser as Tools to Control the Number of Nuclei in Crystallization Processes

Doctoral thesis (2018)

Authors

R. Kacker Intensified Reaction and Separation Systems - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Intensified Reaction and Separation Systems (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2018 R. Kacker
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:ef6761b5-538c-4620-bf50-d66ad1222314
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Published Date

2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Process and Energy

Research Group

Intensified Reaction and Separation Systems

Abstract

The principal objective of the research focuses on the intensification of the batch and continuous crystallization processes through enhanced nucleation control, proper plug flow conditions in continuous tubular crystallizers and development of advanced image analysis based PAT tool for process monitoring.
Nucleation control is addressed through manipulation of the number of crystals in the crystallizer; by either controlling the rate of nuclei formation or through dissolution of the excess nuclei to limit the nucleation overshoot or through continuous seeding in case of flow crystallizer to suppress nucleation in the tubes. The following topics are addressed:

1. The efficiency of the Direct Nucleation Control(DNC) strategy using microwave heating.

2. Induction of high nucleation rates at low supersaturation by the application of laser or ultrasound energy.

3. Combination of the ultrasound assisted internal seed generation in the continuous tubular crystallizer, under plug flow conditions.

4. Characterization of nucleation and the crystal properties through development of in-situ imaging based PAT technology.