course-details-portlet

KP8131

Crystallization and Particle Design

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Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Doctoral degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment

About

About the course

Course content

The course gives a theoretical and practical treatment of mechanisms and kinetics of crystallization and precipitation of solid material from liquid phase. The classical crystallization theory will be presented as the fundamental theoretical background and in addition, recently emerging alternative hypotheses for crystal formation will be discussed. Crystallization processes by reaction and precipitation, salting out, cooling, and evaporation will be addressed. Different experimental techniques and interpretation of experimental data will be discussed in terms of basis for their choice and applicability. The effect of supersaturation, temperature and solution chemistry on the kinetics and mechanisms of nucleation, crystal growth, and agglomeration is a central part of the course. The influence of these parameters on the properties of final products such as crystal phase, morphology and size distribution will be evaluated for development of strategies towards particle design.

The course is offered yearly in Spring semester. Agreement should be made with course responsible prior to registering to the course.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The student should have knowledge about - the thermodynamic background for different crystallization processes - the effect of the supersaturation on nucleation and crystal growth kinetics - classic and more recent theories for nucleation, crystal growth and agglomeration - experimental techniques for the determination of nucleation and crystal growth rates Skills: The student can - assess the effect of temperature, solvent composition, and supersaturation on the particle size distribution of the crystalline product and how this affects solid-liquid separation - design different crystallization reactors in light of the desired particle product - predict how changes in the product are affected by parameters that has effect on the kinetics of nucleation and particle growth. - identify the research front within the crystallization field within an area connected to own research topics General competence: The student can -perform a literature suvey within the crystallization field related to the candidates own research project -present the literature study in a report and as an oral presentation

Learning methods and activities

Lectures/colloquium/exercises/project report.

Further on evaluation

A final written report is delivered and orally presented, on a project decided in the beginning of the term relevant to candidate’s own research.

Course materials

J.W. Mullin: Crystallization, 4th Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., London 2001 (E-book) Van Driessche: New Perspectives on Mineral Nucleation and Growth, Springer, Switzerland 2017 (E-book) Handouts.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
KP8104 7.5 sp Autumn 2009
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Chemical Engineering