Hydrodynamic cavitation crystallization device and process

Abstract

A device and process for crystallizing a compound using hydrodynamic cavitation comprising the steps of mixing at least one stream of a solution of such compound to be crystallized with at least one stream of an anti-solvent and passing the mixed streams at an elevated pressure through a local constriction of flow to create hydrodynamic cavitation thereby causing nucleation and the direct production of crystals.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A device for crystallizing a compound using hydrodynamic cavitation: 
 a flow-through channel having an inlet to permit an anti-solvent solution to enter the flow-through channel;    a port disposed in the flow-through channel for introducing a solvent solution of such compound to be crystallized into the flow-through channel to permit mixing of the anti-solvent and solvent solutions; and    a cavitation generator disposed within the flow-through channel to provide a local constriction of flow thereby causing hydrodynamic cavitation to effectuate nucleation and the direct production of crystals.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said flow-through channel has a substantially circular cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the port is positioned upstream from the local constriction of flow.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the port is positioned within the local constriction of flow.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a second port disposed in the flow-through channel for introducing a second solvent solution of such compound to be crystallized.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the second port is positioned upstream from the local constriction of flow.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the second port is positioned within the local constriction of flow.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said cavitation generator comprises a baffle positioned within the flow-through channel, the baffle having a conically-shaped surface that confronts fluid flow and a cylindrically-shaped surface that produces the local constriction of flow with a wall of the flow-through channel.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the local constriction of flow is an annular orifice.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the cavitation generator comprises a disk having at least one orifice disposed therein that provides the local constriction of flow.