| Abstract: | In this paper, the solubility of trisodium citrate dihydrate and trisodium citrate pentahydrate in water was experimentally determined. From solubility data, it was found that the relationship between trisodium citrate dihydrate and trisodium citrate pentahydrate is enantiotropic with a transition temperature at 315.4±1.0 K. Different hydrates can be isolated safely by controlling the crystallization temperature. The induction periods of trisodium citrate pentahydrate in aqueous solution were measured at different temperatures. The crystal–solution interfacial energy was calculated by using classical nucleation (CL) theory, mononuclear (MN) and polynuclear (PL) mechanisms through the relationship between induction period and supersaturation. It was found that the interfacial energy values calculated by using the CL theory and the MN model are nearly the same while interfacial energy calculated by PN model are about 40% higher. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |
