IN-LINE STUDY OF CRYSTAL FRAGMENTATION IN A STIRRED REACTOR

This paper presents an example of the use of a turbidity multi-wavelen gth sensor for an in-line study of fragmentation of crystals in an agi tated vessel. Thanks to this in situ sensor, it is possible to continu ously record the turbidity spectrum of a suspension. Particle size dis tributions can be calculated for grain diameters between 0.2 and 10 mu m. This sizing technique is applied here to the fragmentation of pota ssium sulphate in ethanol and in its aqueous solution. A qualitative a nd quantitative study of the phenomenon of fragmentation can be thus p erformed. Determination of the influence of mass and stirring rate giv es an indication of the prevailing fragmentation mechanisms. The large discrepancies observed between the behaviors in ethanol and in water are due to agglomeration. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd