INFLUENCE OF OPERATIONAL VARIABLES ON THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF EPSILON-CAPROLACTAM FROM MELTS

The effect of operational variables in the process of melt crystalliza tion of epsilon-caprolactam, including water content and cooling rate was investigated, It was found that the metastable range depends linea rly on the water content. Higher cooling rates resulted in higher wate r content of the epsilon-caprolactam crystals grown in water containin g melts. In the presence of water, higher cooling rates resulted in th e formation of less elongated crystals, In suspensions, the epsilon-ca prolactam crystals formed agglomerates. The agglomeration kinetics of crystallites grown from unstirred melts containing 10% w/w water found to fit the perikinetic model.