title: Modeling solute clustering in the diffusion layer around a growing crystal.
abstract: The mechanism of crystal growth from solution is often thought to consist of a mass transfer diffusion step followed by a surface reaction step. Solute molecules might form clusters in the diffusion step before incorporating into the crystal lattice. A model is proposed in this work to simulate the evolution of the cluster size distribution due to the simultaneous aggregation and breakage of solute molecules in the diffusion layer around a growing crystal in the stirred solution. The crystallization of KAl(SO(4))(2)12H(2)O from aqueous solution is studied to illustrate the effect of supersaturation and diffusion layer thickness on the number-average degree of clustering and the size distribution of solute clusters in the diffusion layer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan 33302, Republic of China. shiau@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Lie-Ding
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.forename: Yung-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lu