(442d) Seeding and Optimization of Batch Reactive Crystallization

Shortcut methods (Tseng and Ward, 2014) are illustrated for the development of operating policies for batch reactive crystallization processes. Two processes, production of barium sulfate (Choong et al, 2004; Sarkar et al, 2007) and production of L-glutamic acid (Borissova et al, 2009; Scholl et al, 2006 and 2007), are studied. For barium sulfate, the critical seed loading ratio is found to be above the practical limit, which suggests that seeding cannot be employed to suppress nucleation. Conversely, for L-glutamic acid, the critical seed loading ratio is below the practical limit for a wide range of seed sizes, suggesting that seeding can be used to suppress nucleation almost entirely. These results are supported by rigorous process simulation. Furthermore, for the barium sulfate process, a plot of nucleation rate B versus growth rate G is concave, indicating that an early growth trajectory (with supersaturation highest at the beginning of the batch) will minimize the nucleated mass, while for the L-glutamic acid process the plot is convex, indicating that a late growth trajectory will minimize the nucleated mass. These results are also confirmed by rigorous simulation and optimization.

 References

Borissova, A.; Khan, S.; Mahmud, T.; Roberts, K. J.; Andrews, J.; Dallin, P.; Chen, Z. P.; Morris, J., In Situ Measurement of Solution Concentration during the Batch Cooling Crystallization of L-Glutamic Acid using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics. Cryst Growth Des 2009, 9, (2), 692-706.

Choong, K. L.; Smith, R., Optimization of semi-batch reactive crystallization processes. Chem Eng Sci 2004, 59, (7), 1529-1540.

Sarkar, D.; Rohani, S.; Jutan, A., Multiobjective optimization of semibatch reactive crystallization processes. AIChE J 2007, 53, (5), 1164-1177.

Scholl, J.; Lindenberg, C.; Vicum, L.; Brozio, J.; Mazzotti, M., Precipitation of alpha L-glutamic acid: determination of growth kinetics. Faraday Discuss 2007, 136, 247-264.

Scholl, J.; Vicum, L.; Muller, M.; Mazzotti, M., Precipitation of L-glutamic acid: Determination of nucleation kinetics. Chem Eng Technol 2006, 29, (2), 257-264.

Tseng, Y. T.; Ward, J. D., Critical seed loading from nucleation kinetics. AIChE J 2014, 60, (5), 1645-1653.