Flow Cell to Study Crystallization Processes In Situ Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy

A versatile setup based on terahertz time-domain spectroscopy was developed to monitor the process of crystallization and characterize the structure of the crystals as well as the dynamics of the solvent in situ. The setup can be used to investigate crystallization processes over a wide range of temperatures, either under static conditions or during continuous flow. An attached optical imaging probe can be used to monitor the process in parallel to the terahertz spectroscopy investigation. The implementation of terahertz spectroscopy offers a great opportunity to investigate the dielectric relaxation dynamics of the solvent and the vibrational modes characteristic for the crystalline phases simultaneously. The details of the crystallization setup are demonstrated using the crystallization process of magnesium sulphate heptahydrate from its aqueous phase.