Crystallization by acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation: Mechanisms and process scalability

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Process Intensification

Background:

• Crystallization processes are crucial in chemical manufacturing.
• Alternative technologies like acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation offer novel approaches.
• Recent research (2014-2024) explores cavitation-induced crystallization, including scale-up potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review studies on acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation for crystallization from 2014-2024.
• To focus on scale-up applications and challenges.
• To identify future research trends in this field.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies published between 2014 and 2024.
• Analysis of parameters including mechanisms, operation modes, reactor configurations, and conditions.
• Focus on laboratory and larger-scale experiments.

Main Results:

• Cavitation generally leads to smaller crystal sizes and higher process yields.
• Continuous flow and flow-through modes are favored for both acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation.
• No scale-up studies for hydrodynamic cavitation were found, despite its advantages.

Conclusions:

• Cavitation-induced crystallization shows significant potential for industrial applications.
• Further research is needed on hydrodynamic cavitation scale-up and mechanistic understanding.
• Standardized reporting of parameters and configurations is essential for future progress.