Growth and dissolution of succinic acid crystals in a batch stirred crystallizer

Growth and dissolution of succinic acid crystals have been studied in an isothermal stirred tank crystallizer. Seeded desupersaturation and deundersaturation experiments have been performed. Parameters of a desired growth rate equation are estimated by fitting the supersaturation balance equation directly to the supersaturation measurements. The procedure is based on nonlinear optimization techniques. Thus, uncertainties in the traditional approximation of the concentration vs. time curve are circumvented. The growth process for succinic acid crystals in an aqueous solution is found to be controlled by a significant resistance in both the volume diffusion step and in the surface integration step. An implicit equation is given to accurately represent the crystal growth rate as a function of the supersaturation. When extrapolating outside the range of experiments, this equation is shown to predict growth rates that are significantly different from those predicted by a corresponding power law expression. The dissolution rate exhibits a nonlinear dependence on undersaturation which is interpreted as changes in the crystal shape. Initial dissolution rate coefficients are in good agreement with volume diffusion coefficients obtained from growth experiments.