Nucleation Kinetics of Cis-Entacapone

D. Škalec Šamec, E. Meštrović and A. Sander

Abstract
The solubility curve and the metastable zone width for the system cis-entacapone – 2-propanol have been determined in defined process conditions. These results along with values of induction period for the constant feed concentration at different levels of supersaturation were used for evaluating interfacial energy according to the classical nucleation theory. The results obtained were used for calculation of the critical nucleus size, nucleation rate, and prediction of crystal growth mechanism. Solubility data and metastable zone width determines the way to achieve the essential supersaturation level, as well as provides information necessary for control of the crystallization process. Knowledge of the fundamental parameters of nucleation kinetics led to the better understanding of the crystallization process in order to obtain a product with desired solid state characteristics.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Keywords
Crystal growth, entacapone, induction period, metastable zone width, nucleation, solubility