Seeded batch crystallization of ammonium aluminum sulfate from aqueous solution

Seed crystals of ammonium aluminum sulfate ((NH(4))Al(SO(4))(2)center dot center dot center dot center dot 12H(2)O) were grown in aqueous solution by cooling. The temperature of a crystallizer was lowered with no control by circulating cooling water through the jacket. It fell in an exponential manner. The effects of seed amount and size on the product crystal size distribution were examined. The product crystals obtained were of narrow and unimodal size distribution with suppressed secondary nucleation if seed crystals were loaded more than a critical value. The critical value was determined and well compared with previously reported values for other material systems. This crystallization technique does not need any prior knowledge of the kinetics of crystal growth and nucleation. It is simple and robust, and can be easily applied to an existing crystallizer without installing any additional control systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.