THE INFLUENCE OF BATCH PROCESSING ON THE PARTICULATE PROPERTIES OF BURKEITE (NA2CO3(NA2SO4)(2))

Studies of the particle porosity as a function of residence time assoc iated with the crystallization of high surface area burkeite (Na2CO3(N a2SO4)(2)) agglomerates revealed no evidence for Ostwald ripening. How ever, a significant increase in particle porosity was observed followi ng milling, reflecting particle breakdown and the consequent exposure of more particle surface to the liquid phase. The action of spray dryi ng was found to reverse this trend with the particulates so formed exh ibiting a much lower porosity, reflecting the blocking of surface pore s by recrystallized material.