Process Intensification in the Reactive Crystallization of Micro- and Nanoparticles

Study of the ultrasound effects on the micro- and nanoparticle synthesis of zeolites at lab scale. For a broad range of temperatures (50-150 °C) and pressures (1-10 bar) US frequency and power are studied for: 1) efficient mixing prior/during crystallization of micro- and nanoparticles, and for 2) de-agglomeration of the crystal aggregates. Micromixing studies are undertaken, as well as the evaluation of meta-stable zone width, induction time and nucleation rate. Deagglomeration and breaking rates of particles are evaluated. Lab-scale batch, loop and flow-through systems are run with US irradiation (US equipment designed by WU, or other devices available for renting, e.g. sonotube from Synetude) at high temperature (> 50°C, preferably > 80 °C) and under pressure (until 10 bar) on real optimized reactive composition (US frequency and power per unit of volume, time/frequency of exposure). The effects of US irradiation on crystallisation are determined by the crystallinity (pore volume measurement by liquid N2 intrusion), purity (XRD) and particle size distribution (laser diffraction analysis, SEM) of the synthetized particles.