Micromixing in a single feed semibatch precipitation process

Precipitation processes are initiated by chemical reactions, which lead to the generation of high supersaturations followed by nucleation and growth of the precipitated particles. The precipitation reactions are very fast and are thereby influenced by mixing. Micromixing is described in terms of engulfment of the environment by a mixed-precipitation zone. Macromixing is accounted for by updating the environment. The effects of various operating conditions on the particle size distribution of barium sulfate were investigated and verified experimentally in an 18-L, Rushton type semibatch reactor.