Crystallization Stephen M. glasgow 1.0 INTRODUCTION Crystallization is one of the oldest methods known for recovering pure solids from a solution. The Chinese, for example, were using crystallization to recover common salt from water some 5000 years ago The perfection and beauty of the crystal which fascinated the early tribes now leads to a product of high purity and attractive appearance. By producing crystals of a uniform size, a product which has good flow, handling, packaging, and storage characteristics is obtained Crystallization is still often thought of as an art rather than a science While some of the aspects of art are required for control of an operating crystallizer, the discovery by miers of the metastable region of the supersatu rated state has made it possible to approach the growth of crystals to a uniform size in a scientific manner To produce pure crystalline solids in an efficient manner, the designer of crystallization equipment takes steps to ensure the control of I. The formation of a supersaturated solution 2. The appearance of crystal nuclei 3. The growth of the nuclei to the desired size 535Crystallization Stephen M. Glasgow 1.0 INTRODUCTION Crystallization is one of the oldest methods known for recovering pure solids from a solution. The Chinese, for example, were using crystallization to recover common salt from water some 5000 years ago. The perfection and beauty of the crystal which fascinated the early tribes now leads to a product of high purity and attractive appearance. By producing crystals of a uniform size, a product which has good flow, handling, packaging, and storage characteristics is obtained. Crystallization is still often thought of as an art rather than a science. While some of the aspects of art are required for control of an operating crystallizer, the discovery by Miers of the metastable region of the supersatu￾rated state has made it possible to approach the growth ofcrystals to aunifonn size in a scientific manner. To produce pure crystalline solids in an efficient manner, the designer of crystallization equipment takes steps to ensure the control of 1. The formation of a supersaturated solution 2. The appearance of crystal nuclei 3. The growth of the nuclei to the desired size 535