In situ determination of metastable zone width by a simple optical probe

The metastable zone width (MSZW), which denotes the region between the solubility curve and the onset of nucleation, is an important control parameter for successful operation of a solution crystallization process as it defines an operating boundary for the crystallization process. The MSZW can be approximated as the gap between the loci of cloud points that correspond to onset of nucleation and clear points that closely represent solubility. This work presents the design and application of a simple optical probe consisting of a line laser source, a light‐dependent resistor, and a simple processing circuit for in situ determination of onset of nucleation of a crystallization process. Three different crystallization processes, namely, cooling crystallization of glycine, cooling crystallization of L‐asparagine monohydrate, and anti‐solvent crystallization of glycine, are investigated to assess the performance of the in situ probe. In all the cases, the cloud points and clear points are conveniently detected by sharp changes in output voltage of the probe with reasonable accuracy. The presented optical probe can be used as a simple and inexpensive alternative tool in the area of crystallization process monitoring.     

On the interpretation of metastable zone width in anti‐solvent crystallization

Considering nonlinear dependence of solute concentration on anti‐solvent–solvent composition a modified Nývlt‐like equation based on traditional power‐law relation between nucleation rate and developing supersaturation and a new equation based on the classical theory of three‐dimension nucleation are proposed to explain the dependence of anti‐solvent addition rate on metastable zone width defined as excessive anti‐solvent composition in anti‐solvent crystallization. The experimental data on the metastable zone width in anti‐solvent crystallization of benzoic acid are analyzed and discussed from the standpoint of these equations. It is found that the new approach based on the classical nucleation theory provides better insight into the processes involved in anti‐solvent crystallization. Analysis of the experimental results on anti‐solvent crystallization of benzoic acid [D. O'Grady, M. Barret, E. Casey, and B. Glennon, Trans. IChemE A 85 , 945, (2007)] revealed that: (1) the value of metastable zone width for a solvent–anti‐solvent system is determined by the solute–solvent and solute–anti‐solvent interactions, (2) the dependence of the metastable zone width on stirring is associated with the enthalpy of mixing, and (3) the new approach predicts a threshold anti‐solvent addition rate associated with the setting up of an equilibrium between solvent and anti‐solvent and a maximum anti‐solvent addition rate connected with the induction period t_ind for the onset of crystallization. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

ADP及KDP晶体纵向压电系数d33的计算及其验证

ADP(磷酸二氢铵)和KDP(磷酸二氢钾)晶体都属于42m点群,是20世纪早期的著名压电晶体,具有易于大尺寸生长的优点。但它们在主轴坐标系中只有厚度切变压电系数(d14,d36),没有纵向压电系数(d33,k33),而这种纵向压电效应在实际应用中较多。本文通过利用坐标变换的方法,计算了这两种晶体纵向压电性能在空间的分布。通过计算,首先我们发现这两种晶体在空间存在着纵向伸缩压电效应,其次我们还得到了它们在空间的纵向压电系数的最大值和切型。ADP晶体:d33,m ax=8.66×10-12C/N,切型为(xywl)45°/50°;k33,m ax=0.07,切型为(xywl)45°/50°。KDP晶体:d33,m ax=4.54×10-12C/N,切型为(yzlw)45°/55;°k33,m ax=0.04,切型为(yzlw)45°/48°。ADP晶体的纵向压电性能略好于KDP。另外,本文还分别对上述计算结果进行了实验验证,实验结果与计算结果基本一致。对两种晶体压电器件的进一步开发和利用具有理论指导意义。     

Metastable zone width for secondary nucleation and secondary nucleation inside the metastable zone

This study presents an evaluation of a new method, called zero growth activation free energy, used to determine the metastable zone width for the secondary nucleation case. It predicts the metastable zone width with a maximum error of 5‐10%. Estimation of the metastable zone width for different isothermal crystallization conditions can be modeled according to a chosen reference set of growth experiments carried out in the volume diffusion regime at different initial supersaturations, using seed crystals of a certain characteristic size. Moreover, the activation free energy of the secondary nucleation was estimated. The role of the enthalpy of immersion in the formation of secondary nucleation events inside the metastable zone was pointed out, as well as its effect in causing extra‐fast growth rate. Furthermore, sucrose crystal surface free energy was estimated. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Investigation of metastable zone width of ammonium oxalate aqueous solutions

The metastable zone width of pure ammonium oxalate aqueous solutions, as represented by maximum supercooling ΔT_max, is investigated as functions of cooling rate R and saturation temperature T₀ by the polythermal method. The experimental results are discussed by using two recently advanced approaches: (1) self‐consistent Nývlt‐like approach based on a power‐law relationship between nucleation rate J and maximum supersaturation lnS_max, and (2) a novel approach based on the relationship between J and lnS_max described by the classical three‐dimensional nucleation theory. Analysis of the experimental data revealed that both approaches describe the experimental data on metastable zone width by the polythermal method reliably and provide useful information about the physical processes and parameters involved in nucleation kinetics. The values of various physical quantities predicted by both of these approaches are reasonable for a fairly‐soluble compound. A careful examination of the data on ΔT_max as a function of T₀ obtained by polythermal method and from density measurements showed that ΔT_max has a slight tendency to decrease with increasing saturation temperature T₀. The values of lnS_max at saturation temperature 303 K suggest that the metastable zone width of ammonium oxalate aqueous solutions is determined by primary nucleation in the polythermal method and by secondary nucleation during density measurements. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Enhancement of stability of growth,structural and NLO properties of KDP crystals due to additive along with seed rotation

Potassium Acetate (CH₃COOK) and Potassium Citrate (K₃C₆H₅O₇) as new additives were added into the potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) solutions in different molar ratios. The metastable zone width and induction period with and without these additives were determined and compared. Dielectric measurements on pure and doped KDP crystals at various temperatures ranging from 313 to 423 K were carried out by the conventional parallel plate capacitor method which results low dielectric constant value dielectrics in doped crystals. The high resolution XRD studies show that CH₃COOK doped KDP crystal and K₃C₆H₅O₇ doped KDP crystal do not contain any internal structural grain boundaries and indicates that the crystalline perfection is very good. Moreover, the addition of these potassium additives improves the quality of the crystal and yields highly transparent crystals with well defined features. The effect of additives on the growth, nucleation kinetics, structural, NLO and optical properties has been investigated. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

L-精氨酸掺杂下ZTS溶液的稳定性研究

研究了L-精氨酸掺杂下硫脲硫酸锌(ZTS)溶液中的成核过程,测量了在不同掺杂浓度下ZTS溶液的亚稳区和诱导期.结果表明:随掺杂浓度的增加,溶液的亚稳区变宽,诱导期增大;根据经典成核理论计算了晶体的成核热、动力学参数,分析了溶液稳定性与掺杂浓度的关系,即随着L-精氨酸掺杂浓度的增加,溶液的稳定性得到明显提高.利用化学腐蚀法对ZTS晶体(100)面进行了腐蚀,并用光学显微镜对腐蚀面进行观察,得到了清晰的位错蚀坑.当L-精氨酸掺杂浓度为1.5mol;时,ZTS晶体(100)面位错蚀坑密度最小,适合高光学质量晶体的生长.     

A novel self‐consistent Nývlt‐like equation for metastable zone width determined by the polythermal method

Using a power‐law relation between three‐dimensional nucleation rate J and dimensionless supersaturation ratio S, and the theory of regular solutions to describe the temperature dependence of solubility, a novel Nývlt‐like equation of metastable zone width of solution relating maximum supercooling ΔT_max with cooling rate R is proposed in the form: ln(ΔT_max/T₀) = Φ + β lnR, with intercept Φ = {(1–m)/m }ln(ΔH_s/R_GT_lim) + (1/m)ln(f/KT₀) and slope β = 1/m. Here T₀ is the initial saturation temperature of solution in a cooling experiment, ΔH_s is the heat of dissolution, R_G is the gas constant, T_lim is the temperature of appearance of first nuclei, m is the nucleation order, and K is a new nucleation constant connected with the factor f defined as the number of particles per unit volume. It was found that the value of the term Φ for a system at saturation temperature T₀ is essentially determined by the constant m and the factor f. The value of the factor f for a solute–solvent system at initial saturation temperature T₀ is determined by solute concentration c₀. Analysis of the experiment data for four different solute‐water systems according to the above equation revealed that: (1) the values of Φ and m for a system at a given temperature depend on the method of detection of metstable zone width, and (2) the value of slope β = 1/m for a system is practically a temperature‐independent constant characteristic of the system, but the value of Φ increases with an increase in saturation temperature T₀, following an Arrhenius‐type equation with an activation energy E_sat. The results showed, among others, that solubility of a solute is an important factor that determines the value of the nucleation order m and the activation energy E_sat for diffusion. In general, the lower the solubility of a solute in a given solvent, the higher is the value of m and lower is the value of E_sat. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

超声波对甲硝唑溶液结晶热力学性质的影响

本文采用降温结晶的方法,在搅拌和超声波作用下,分别测量了甲硝唑溶液结晶成核的介稳区和诱导期.通过分析超声波对甲硝唑溶液结晶的介稳区、诱导期产生的影响,从扩散系数、温度及能量角度分析了超声波促进晶体成核作用的机理.通过比较搅拌和超声波下得到的产品,从理论上对影响晶体粒度及结晶产率的因素进行了分析.     

Effect of Urea on Metastable Zone Width,Induction Time and Nucleation Parameters of Ammonium Dihydrogen Orthophosphate

Enhancement of the metastable zone width in ammonium dihydrogen ortho phosphate (ADP) was achieved by the addition of the organic compound Urea to ADP solution. The metastable zone width studies were carried out for various temperature cooling rates and the nucleation parameters are studied. The induction period was studied and the critical nucleation parameters calculated based on classical theory for homogeneous nucleation are discussed. The critical nucleation parameters increase with the increase in concentration of doping.     

Determination of Nucleation Parameters of YBCO from High Temperature Solution

The growth kinetics of YBCO single crystal from high temperature solution of YBCO-BaO/CuO solute-solvent system has been studied. Based on regular solution model and classical nucleation theory the thermodynamical data investigated for the system are used to determine the nucleation parameters: interfacial energy, metastable zone-width (supercooling temperature), free energy change, critical nucleation radius etc. which leads to the understanding of the nucleation phenomena of YBCO.     

对甲苯磺酸(PTSA)对DAST晶体生长、表征的影响

向4-(4-二甲基氨基苯乙烯基)甲基吡啶对甲苯磺酸盐(DAST)甲醇溶液中加入对甲苯磺酸(PTSA),从中生长出DAST晶体.测试了纯生长溶液和加入PTSA后溶液的亚稳区,发现PTSA能够明显增加DAST生长溶液的亚稳区的宽度.通过粉末XRD和FTIR分别测试了PTSA掺杂和未掺杂溶液中生长的DAST晶体的晶体结构和官能团,测试结果表明PTSA并不会改变其晶体结构.溶液的稳定性有助于生长出大尺寸DAST晶体.     

Determination of nucleation kinetics of lovastatin in acetone solution

The metastable zone widths of lovastatin in acetone solution were determined at different temperatures, cooling rates and initial concentrations by polythermal method. It decreases with the increase of temperature and initial concentration, increases with the increase of cooling rate. The induction periods of lovastatin in acetone solution were also investigated as a function of supersaturation ratios. The crystal‐liquid interfacial tension, thus the fundermental nucleation parameters including Gibbs free energy change for the formation of critical nucleus, radius of critical nucleus and number of molecules in the critical nucleus have been gotten based on the classical homogeneous nucleation theory. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effects of impurity ions on solubility and metastable zone width of phosphoric acid

Effects of two typical impurity ions as Fe²⁺ and SO₄^2– in phosphoric acid on solubility and metastable zone width (MZW) had been studied. It was shown that polythermal method was suitable for solubility measurement in this study. The solubility experimental data was correlated with a polynomial equation. Being compared with Fe²⁺, SO₄^2– had a greater impact on the phosphoric acid solubility; and the variation in phosphoric acid MZW was just opposite. Phosphoric acid apparent secondary nucleation order was calculated to be 3.50 by means of modified regression method. And also the influence of impurity ions on apparent secondary nucleation order was investigated in this paper. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystallization and Characterization of Orthorhombic β‐MgSO4 · 7H2O

In solution, the growth rate and the crystal habit are influenced by a number of factors such as supersaturation, temperature, pH of the solution, cooling rate, agitation, viscosity, initial state of the seed crystal and the presence of impurities. The crystallization of orthorhombic β‐MgSO₄ · 7H₂O, from low temperature aqueous solution by slow cooling process was studied. The metastable zone width, the induction periods (τ) for different supersaturations and the effect of pH on the growth rate of the crystals were investigated. The increase of pH yielded bigger crystals. The structural, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of β‐MgSO₄ · 7H₂O have been studied using FT‐IR, X‐ray diffraction, TGA‐DTG and micro hardness analyses.