Citric acid crystallization process in dense phase using vibrated bed

This study evaluated mass yield, in crystallization of citric acid on a vibrated bed, using a large seed population (dense phase). A stainless steel crystallizer, jacketed and trunk-conical shaped was used in the crystallization experiments. The shaking system consisted of two perforated disks coupled to a mobile axle, which was connected to an eccentric. A central composite design (CCD) was used considering three independent variables: supersaturation level, dimensionless vibration number, and crystallization time, while the seed population (100,000 U) and operation temperature (55 °C) were fixed. Optimization of the experimental data obtained in the CCD was done finding the condition of maximum yield, 164.7%, which was experimentally tested and resulted in yield of 187.7%. An experimental simulation of serial crystallizers was studied, obtaining 166.9% yield, which was effective for obtaining crystals of greater final dimension.