Crystal growth models of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in a MSMPR reactive crystallizer

The reactive crystallization process of dexamethasone sodium phosphate was investigated in a continuous mixed-suspension, mixed-product-removal(MSMPR) crystallizer. Analyzing experimental data, it was found that the growth of product crystal was size-dependent. The Bransom, CR, ASL, MJ2 and MJ3 size-dependent growth models were discussed in details. Using experimental steady state population density data of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, parameters of five size-dependent growth models were determined by the method of non-linear least-squares. By comparison of experimental population density and linear growth rate data with those obtained from the five size-dependent growth models, it was found that the MJ3 model predicts the growth more accurately than do the other four models. Based on the theory of population balance, the crystal nucleation and growth rate equations of dexamethasone sodium phosphate were determined by non-linear regression method. The effects of different operation parameters such as supersaturation, magma density and temperature on the quality of product crystal were also discussed, and the optimal operation conditions were derived.