Crystallization kinetics for boric acid-water system was studied in a cooling CMSMPR crystallizer. Crystal size distributions(CSD) were determined by sieve analysis for samples at steady state. CSD has been found to be exponentially distributed at steady state condition.
Boric acid growth and nucleation rates were determined from the slopes and intercepts of the crystal size distribution plots; $G = 6.46\times10^{-5} S^{3.35}$, $B^{\circ} = 7.58\times10^5 G^{0.10} M_T^{0.97}$. Since growth and nucleation of crystals are parallel, competing reactions, higher level of supersaturation will result in a larger mean size crystal. Therefore if the objective of a crystallization is to produce large sized particles, batch or plug flow reactor is preferred to have a steady, and continuous mode.
Agitation level(RPM) had significant effect on the nucleation rates, presumably it may implying the removal-limited nucleation.
