Crystal shape monitoring and supersaturation measurement in cooling crystallization with quartz crystal oscillator

A crystallization monitoring system using a quartz crystal oscillator was utilized to predict different shapes of crystal formation by measuring crystal growth rate and to measure supersaturation. Applying different rates of cooling, crystal formation of different shapes was induced, and the frequency variation of the oscillator and the crystal shape observed with an SEM were compared to determine how the frequency variation can be interpreted for the prediction of produced crystal shape. The experimental results obtained from the crystallization of potassium nitrate and cupric sulfate solutions showed that the proposed frequency measurement technique could be applied in the prediction of crystal shape of cooling crystallization processes. In addition, supersaturation was determined from the measurements of solution and coolant temperatures.