METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CRYSTALLIZATION BY CONTROLLED EVAPORATION

• Main Authors: EMERY MICHAEL P, SINCLAIR JAMES, BARGER JACK
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.12.2010
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; SEPARATION; TESTING; TRANSPORTING

Methods and devices for controlled evaporation of solvent from a solution are provided. In one embodiment, the device can control evaporation of different solutions comprising solvents of dissimilar volatilities simultaneously. In another embodiment, control over the flow of solvent vapor out of the device is provided by selecting the pressure at an inlet port and an exhaust port of the device. In yet another embodiment, control over the flow of solvent vapor out of the device is provided by selecting the size of a disk flow control orifice positioned between the wells and a vapor removal outlet of the device. In still another embodiment, control over the flow of solvent vapor out of the device is provided by the opening and closing of the vapor removal outlet of the device. In yet a further embodiment, the rate of evaporation of solvent is controlled by controlling the temperature of the solution. The flow rate control mechanisms can be used alone or in any combination to control evaporation of one or more solvents from solutions.