A Comprehensive Model for the Interface-Based Crystal Particle Autoselection Via Membrane Crystallization

A
comprehensive model for interface-based crystal particle
autoselection via membrane crystallization:

Jin Li, Guannan Li, Xiaobin Jiang^*,
Gaohong He

Corresponding author E-mail: xbjiang@dlut.edu.cn

State Key Laboratory
of Fine Chemicals, R&D Center of Membrane Science and Technology, School of
Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024,
China

Accurate
crystallization control is an essential aspect for chemical engineering and
separation process. With the fast development of membrane combined
separation technology, the unique features of membrane
crystallization (MCr) in simultaneous crystal and solution recovery with low
energy consumption were realized (PNAS
2017, 114, 6936; Adv Mater, 2016, 28, 610; AIChE J. 2016, 62, 829; AIChE J. 2017,63, 2187).

While, the physical control mechanism of the nucleation and particle
motions (adhere or detach) via MCr is still not clear, which limits the
operation design and industrial application of MCr. In addition, the membrane
induced crystallization should be distinguished from the conventional membrane
scaling and uncotrolling separation in both conceptual aspect and engineering
aspect (show in Fig. 1).

In this work, we endeavored to develop a model combined the particle motion
behavior with classic nucleation theory and establish an experiment equipment
to directly observe the simulated particle motion. For the first time, beyond a
separation technology, the novel Interfacial
crystal particle auto-selection function of advanced
membrane crystallization (MCr) was revealed and verified
in theoretical and experimental aspect. As illustrated in Fig. 1, with the definition of particle detachment criterion K and
the three particle motion modes
(temporary adhere, detachment and perpetual adhere), the three different function regions of MCr
(nucleation detection, scaling control and crystallization regulation) was
systematically demonstrated via the directly observed results.

Fig.
1 Schematic diagram of the key functions
illustrated via the developed MCr model

The exciting findings in this paper
can uncover the optimization strategy for membrane
scaling adjustment (which is one of
the foundational problems in membrane separation engineering: J. Membrane Sci. 2016, 499, 201; Environ.
Sci. Technol. 2015,
49, 4235) and the nucleation controlling mechanism (which are the general concerns in
crystallization engineering: Science,
2013, 341, 855; AIChE J. 2016, 62(9), 3505; AIChE J. 2014, 60 (1),
275).

The advantages of MCr on accurate crystal seed auto-selection based on the
natural membrane interfacial characteristics, which also shed light on the
potential applications of the uniform size distribution, morphology modified
particles manufacture and in situ nucleation detection, etc. Thus, the results
in this paper are expected to be rapidly and widely distributed, discussed, and
built upon in multiple disciplines, such as chemical engineering, physical,
pharmaceutical, bioengineering, etc.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge financial contribution from National Natural Science
Foundation of China (Grant No. 21527812, 21676043, U1663223, 21606035),
Changjiang Scholars Program (T2012049), the Fundamental Research Funds for the
Central Universities (DUT16TD19, DUT17ZD203).