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Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...

Precipitation Processes

Precipitation Processes

The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...

Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates

Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates

After filtration, the precipitate is washed to remove coprecipitated impurities and any remaining mother liquor. Colloidal precipitates, such as silver chloride, are washed with an electrolyte (such as dilute nitric acid) to prevent the peptization of the precipitate. In the case of slightly soluble precipitates, the wash solution contains a common ion to reduce solubility. Lead sulfate, which is slightly soluble in water, is washed with dilute sulfuric acid. Similarly, wash solutions may be...

Colloidal precipitates

Colloidal precipitates

The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

Published on: August 14, 2018

Design and implementation of suspended drop crystallization.

Cody Gillman¹, William J Nicolas¹, Michael W Martynowycz¹

¹Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

|May 24, 2023

Summary

A new suspended drop crystallization method simplifies protein crystal growth directly on electron microscopy grids. This technique facilitates direct analysis using X-ray crystallography or microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED).

Keywords:

3D printing CryoEM FIB milling FIB/SEM MicroED TEM cryogenic freezing membrane proteins microcrystal electron diffraction structural studies of nano-/microcrystals

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$On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature$

On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature

Published on: March 11, 2022

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Last Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

Published on: August 14, 2018

$Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography$

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography

Published on: April 24, 2018

$On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature$

On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature

Published on: March 11, 2022

Area of Science:

Structural biology
Biophysics
Crystallography

Background:

Traditional protein crystallization methods often involve complex sample preparation steps.
Challenges include sample manipulation, sensitivity to mechanical stress, and preferred orientation on grids.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel, streamlined crystal growth technique called suspended drop crystallization.
To overcome limitations of existing methods for preparing protein crystals for advanced structural analysis.

Main Methods:

Protein and precipitant are mixed directly on an electron microscopy grid.
The grid is suspended in a custom chamber for controlled vapor diffusion.
Crystal growth is monitored using light, UV, or fluorescence microscopy.
Crystals are analyzed directly via X-ray crystallography or microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED).

Main Results:

Successfully grew crystals of the enzyme proteinase K using suspended drop crystallization.
Determined the structure of proteinase K using MicroED after focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy milling.
Demonstrated the method's efficacy for samples sensitive to stress or with preferred orientation issues.

Conclusions:

Suspended drop crystallization offers an efficient alternative for protein crystal growth and preparation.
This method simplifies workflows for structural determination using techniques like MicroED.
The technique is particularly beneficial for challenging samples, including those in viscous media.