The analysis, development, and implementation
of novel complex
industrial crystallization processes requires kinetic knowledge of
not only crystal growth and nucleation but also breakage, dissolution,
and agglomeration processes. In this work, the crystal growth, dissolution,
and agglomeration kinetics of sodium chlorate (NaClO3)
in aqueous solutions are estimated via seeded batch experiments with
in-line particle size distribution measurements. Contrary to previous
works, the growth/dissolution kinetics are expressed in terms of the
fundamental driving force of crystallization calculated from the activity
of supersaturated solutions. The activity-based driving force is roughly
2-fold higher than the commonly used representation, which assumes
ideal solutions. By fitting experimental desupersaturation data to
mechanistic and empirical growth models, we show that the growth of
sodium chlorate is surface integration controlled and is best described
by a two-dimensional birth and spread surface nucleation mechanism.
The dissolution of sodium chlorate crystals is diffusion controlled
and is ∼4 times faster than the growth at an equal initial
driving force. Particle agglomeration is substantial in the early
stages of crystallization experiments, likely due to a strong increase
in the particle number due to initial breeding secondary nucleation
upon seeding. The agglomeration rate constant increases with supersaturation
and decreases at higher energy dissipation rate (by increased agitation)
due to a strong decrease in the efficiency of interparticle collisions.
Seeding with material of different sizes does not influence the agglomeration
rate constant, although substantial amount of small particles was
present in all seeding materials.