Industrial crystallization - Developments in research and technology

In this review paper developments in industrial crystallization are discussed with emphasis on recent highlights in the field. One of the most important past developments can be found in the introduction of the population balance concept. This will be discussed together with more recent developments and topics currently of great interest such as molecular modelling, polymorphism and polymorph prediction at the fundamental scientific level as well as melt crystallization equipment, eutectic freezing crystallization and crystallization control by means of on-line techniques at the applied, industrial level. Potential future directions for industrial crystallization are discussed with reference to past and present developments. The future of industrial crystallization is envisaged to lie in areas such as nano-particle production by means of crystallization and protein crystallization, in addition to some of those mentioned above.