WO2004058377A1

WO2004058377A1 - Apparatus and method for forming crystals/precipitate/particles

Info

Publication number: WO2004058377A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/040240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ross Edward Kendall; Sean Mark Dalziel; Arthur W. Etchells; Daniel Albert Green; Stephan Claude De La Veaux; Foster W. Rennie
Original assignee: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company
Priority date: 2002-12-16
Filing date: 2003-12-16
Publication date: 2004-07-15
Also published as: AU2003293576A1; EP1572314A1; KR20050088383A; JP2006510484A; CN1747770A

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the production of particles via precipitation or crystallization and the like and methods for forming the crystals/precipitate or other particles.

Description

TITLE

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING

CRYSTALS/PRECIPITATE/PARTICLES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the production of particles via precipitation or crystallization and the like, methods for forming the crystals/precipitate or other particles, and a method providing for the variation of the scale of the apparatus while substantially maintaining a constant specific power intensity. This apparatus can be configured to crystallize biological products such as proteins and enzymes, small organic molecules such as pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, as well as inorganic materials such as mineral salts.

Description of the Related Art

Draft tube crystallizers are commonly used to produce many different kinds of materials and particles, including but not limited to organic compounds such as adipic acid and pentaerythritol, and inorganic compounds such as gypsum, calcium fluoride and sodium sulfate. For example, U.S. Patent No. 1 ,997,277 (Burke) describes an apparatus for forming single nuclei crystals from a solution by evaporative cooling. The production of particles, particularly fine particles, is used in many applications, such as oral, transdermal, injected or inhaled pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, diagnostic agents, agrochemicals, pigments, food ingredients, food formulations, beverages, fine chemicals, cosmetics, electronic materials, inorganic minerals and metals. In some instances current precipitation and crystallization techniques do not work reliably to produce crystals having a suitable size and size distribution. In some instances large crystals are desired to ease solid/liquid separation and improve powder flow characteristics of the product, in other instances, such as with inhalable pharmaceuticals, fine particles of a narrow size range (e.g. 1 - 5 microns) are desirable. Increasing particle size is a difficult and often unsuccessful challenge for a crystallization process engineer. Much of the methods in the art concern (i) mixing and agitation systems and (ii) classification methods that enable various size fractions within the crystallizer to be recycled, dissolved or enriched. In the instances where it is desirable to generate fine particles, often milling, crushing, or grinding processes are required as a post treatment to reduce the crystallized particles to the desired size and distribution ranges. If the product size could be adequately directly controlled by manipulating the crystallizer rather than a post treatment milling step, the processing would be simpler, more robust, particle surfaces would be clean faced, leading to less dust and improved particle properties (e.g. flow, compaction into tablets, etc.), and improved dispersibility for dry powder inhaled therapeutic products.

Additionally, crystallizers are commonly designed with a fixed geometric proportion between the diameter and height of the vessel, as well as, the diameter and pitch or thickness of the agitator blades. However, in crystallization practice there are many times when this fixed geometric scaling is not desirable.

Fixed geometric scaling of an agitator system within a crystallizer is not optimal because the slurry pumping within the vessel and the specific power intensity (SPI) of the agitator delivery energy to the slurry do not scale linearly with each other, so that as one changes the scale of the unit (e.g. the agitator diameter), the pumping rate and SPI design parameters change. Thus the conundrum for the designer is to decide which parameter to keep constant, which parameter to vary, or to compromise and vary both parameters. For example, texts, such as Crystallization, Third Edition, by J. W. Mullin, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1993, citing A. W. Nienow, "The Effect of Agitation on the Crystal Growth and Nucleation Rates and on Secondary Nucleation", Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, 54, pp. 205-207, 1976, recommend keeping the tip speed constant for lab, pilot and full scale versions of a crystallizer. However for larger diameter impellers, this will let the specific power intensity vary, which has been more closely related to attrition and secondary nucleation rates than tip speed.

The present invention provides an efficient and scalable apparatus and a process for producing crystals/precipitate or other particles. One advantage provided by the present invention is a high internal pumping (or circulation) rate, while requiring a low specific power input, thus enabling an environment for good mass transfer and minimal breakage/attrition/damage to mechanically sensitive crystals/precipitate or particles. As a result, the benefits of this apparatus are especially so for mechanically sensitive solid products such as biological products (e.g. proteins) and small organic molecules such as pharmaceuticals. Additionally, another advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus may also be used as a general process vessel, not only for crystallization applications, but also for applications including, but not limited to, its use as a fermentor, extractor and liquid/emulsion separator, reactor for heterogeneously catalyzed processes and the like. With regard to these applications, this apparatus provides very good mixing and rapid dilution of a feed stream(s), with substantially lower specific power input to the slurry than alternative process vessels (such as those agitated by Rushtoπ turbines, fixed pitch impellers, hydrofoils, marine type impellers, rotor-stator, and the like). Still another advantage of the present invention is that it may be optionally utilized to enable feeding a fluid containing seed crystals or other particles for co-precipitation, further growth or coating.

Thus, the invention provides an apparatus that is a process vessel and configuration for a lab scale, pilot scale or industrial scale crystallization or precipitation process that enables improved control over the formation of crystals/particles. Based on the particular parameters discussed herein, the apparatus and process according to the present invention are also better able to control the size of the crystals/particles formed during the crystallization/precipitation process than is presently done in the crystallization art, for example utilizing the draft tube baffled type crystallizer. Additionally, commercial crystallizers are commonly limited or hindered in their performance by higher than desired rates of crystal nucleation. Techniques to deal with higher than desired nucleation rates have been in practice for many years and are described in most crystallization texts. Such techniques include fines destruction; clear liquor advance and double draw off. Each of these three techniques require the slurry of crystals to be classified (e.g. into clear liquor, fine and coarse fractions). This classification is commonly achieved via external classification devices, such as elutriators and cyclones.

For the case of fines destruction, the fine fraction of crystals are passed through a system that leads to their dissolution (e.g., a heat exchanger, diluter) and the clear liquor is returned to the crystallizer. This is particularly useful for batch crystallizer operation, but also widely practiced in continuous processes. In the case of clear liquor advance, the classification is at the extreme, where the fraction collected from the classification device is essentially free of crystals, as is used in a number of continuous mineral crystallization/precipitation processes. Double draw off is used in continuous crystallization processes, where a representative stream of the slurry is removed, and sent to the separation device downstream, as well as a classified stream of the fines fraction. In all of these cases, a larger product crystal size is generated from the equipment, which can be desirable in itself, as well as enabling less investment in the separation equipment required downstream of the crystallizer (e.g., centrifuge, filter press, etc.). Another advantage of the present invention is that it can enable larger crystals/precipitate/particles to be made than when utilizing other crystallizers found in the art, and thus, for a process that is at its production rate limit, a higher production rate may be possible for the same downstream separation equipment via the production of a larger mean crystal size. The classification of the slurry into clear, fine and coarse fractions is the enabling step to harness this advantage.

Potential applications of the present invention are very broad, for example, industries able to utilize the particles generated by the present invention include pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, diagnostics, polymer intermediates, agrochemicals, pigments, food ingredients, food formulations, beverages, cell cultures and their products, fine chemicals, cosmetics, electronic materials, inorganic minerals and metals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a crystallization/precipitation apparatus comprising: (a) a vessel; (b) a radial flow agitator having an optional top plate and a base plate; and (c) a draft tube, having a plurality of baffles rigidly attached thereto, arranged within the vessel forming a channel between the draft tube and a sidewall of the vessel, wherein the draft tube has a diameter that is about 0.7 times the size of a diameter of the vessel.

The present invention further relates to a method for crystallizing/precipitating particles comprising the steps of:

feeding at least one fluid into the apparatus, wherein the fluid comprises at least one dissolved substance that is to be crystallized/precipitated;

agitating said at least one fluid, wherein the at least one dissolved substance is caused to crystallize/precipitate into particles from said at least one fluid; and

causing the at least one fluid and the particles to exit the apparatus of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 represents a lateral cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 represents a top view of an impeller according to the present invention.

Figure 3 represents a side view of an impeller according to the present invention.

Figure 4 represents a bottom view of an embodiment of an impeller according to the present invention.

Figure 5 represents a side view of an embodiment of an impeller according to the present invention.

Figure 6 represents a side view of an alternative embodiment of the draft tube according to the present invention. Figure 7 represents a lateral cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 represents a lateral cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 represents a system incorporating the present invention. Figure 10 represents a system incorporating the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process using said apparatus for forming crystals/precipitate or other particles. Generally the present invention can be utilized to generate crystals precipitate/particles of various sizes, depending upon the compound to be crystallized. However, typically, the crystals/precipitate or other particles are in the range of about 0.5 micron to about 3000 microns, however smaller or larger particle sizes are also contemplated by the present invention due to its ability to control crystal/precipitate/particle size. Thus the present invention allows for the production of larger crystals as well as for a narrower size distribution or finer crystals of narrower size distribution than is typically delivered by other crystallizers in the art.

The present invention further provides the ability to make crystals of the same size and size distribution at different scales of the process vessel (e.g. lab scale versus production scale) because it sets forth a method for varying the scale of the present invention, while substantially maintaining a constant specific power intensity.

The apparatus of the present invention may be utilized in either batch or continuous configurations. The apparatus of the present invention may be utilized with a wide diversity of fluids to act as feed/reactant(s) including, but not limited to, solvents, liquids, slurries, suspensions, liquefied gases, supercritical fluids, subcritical fluids and the like.

The present invention may be utilized for the production of any precipitated or crystallized particles, including pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, diagnostic agents, agrochemicals, pigments, food ingredients, food formulations, beverages, fine chemicals, cosmetics, electronic materials, inorganic minerals and metals. The crystalline/precipitated particles for other industry segments can be produced using the same general techniques described herein as easily modified by those skilled in the art.

In general, there are potentially conflicting requirements for crystallizer agitation, for example (1) good mixing and uniform particle suspension; and (2) the minimization of particle damage and secondary crystal nucleation. Good mixing is typically provided by high volumetric flow rates from an agitator and a turbulent zone for the initial dispersion of any feed streams. Uniform particle suspension is typically provided by relatively high fluid velocities, particularly in upflow. However, the generation of these conditions may be problematic, because it usually entails creating conditions that will also damage particles and cause secondary nucleation. The present invention provides both an apparatus and method to alleviate these problems within the art. As used herein, the term "shear zone" shall include all areas within the present invention that are subject to shear force, for example, the area between the tip of an impeller blade and the baffle, the base plate apertures, and the agitator-swept volume. As used herein, the term "shear force" shall encompass all of the mixing/dispersion, mechanical forces produced in the apparatus of the invention including, but not limited to, the nominal shear rate generated in the agitator-swept volume, elongation forces, turbulence, cavitation, and impingement of the surfaces. As used herein, the terms "crystallization" and/or "precipitation" include any methodology of producing particles from fluids; including, but not limited to, classical solvent/antisolvent crystallization/precipitation; temperature dependent crystallization/precipitation; "salting out" crystallization/precipitation; pH dependent reactions; "cooling driven" crystallization/precipitation; crystallization/precipitation based upon chemical and/or physical reactions; etc.

As used herein, "biopharmaceutical" includes any therapeutic compound being derived from a biological source or chemically synthesized to be equivalent to a product from a biological source, for example, a protein, a peptide, a vaccine, a nucleic acid, an immunoglobulin, a polysaccharide, cell product, a plant extract, an animal extract, a recombinant protein an enzyme or combinations thereof.

The present invention generally provides an apparatus comprising: (a) a vessel; (b) an agitator having an optional top plate and a base plate; and

(c) a draft tube, having a plurality of baffles rigidly attached thereto, arranged within the vessel to form a channel between the draft tube and a sidewall of the vessel, wherein the draft tube has a diameter that is about 0.7 times the size of a diameter of the vessel. In general, the dimensions of the apparatus (30) of the present invention vary (e.g. a diameter of about 1cm to more than about 15 meters) because the invention can be scaled to a variety of sizes. Thus, the dimensions will change to accommodate the scaled versions of the present invention. The scale of the present invention may change substantially such that this style of apparatus may be designed for small production rates (e.g. 0.0005kg/h) through various sizes of vessel up to about 300,000 kilograms per hour of crystal product on a dry weight basis. The vessel (1) of the present invention may be of any shape conventionally utilized in the crystallization/precipitation or particle formation art. Preferably, however, the vessel is a closed cylindrical shell having a side wall (2), and at least one port (11) through which nozzles, feed pipes and the like may be inserted.

The vessel may be constructed of any material capable of withstanding the forces created by the present invention, such as, for example, fiberglass, steel, preferably stainless steel, more preferably carbon steel, PVC, glass and the like. Preferably, the vessel of the present invention is stainless steel.

The vessel has at least one port (11), preferably a plurality of ports, to allow for the insertion or attachment of at least one pipe and/or nozzle, for the introduction and/or removal of vapors and/or liquids and/or the draw-off of product from the vessel and/or to permit cleaning and/or sterilization (in-place) as part of processing hygiene requirements. The at least one port, and consequently the at least one inlet pipe, line nozzle or the like, may be positioned anywhere on the vessel.

The vessel may also optionally have centering supports (8) attached to the vessel side wall and the draft tube to provide stability and support for the draft tube.

Secondary baffles (9) may optionally be attached to the vessel side wall to aid in re-directing the contained feed/reactant(s) to have a substantially downward flow towards the interior portion of the draft tube. The vessel dimensions vary according to the scale utilized. Those persons skilled in the art, in light of the disclosures herein, will recognize and understand the necessary adjustments that must be made to the vessel when scaling the apparatus. As shown in Figure 7, another embodiment of the present invention provides for a vessel having a peripheral settling zone (10), which enables the classification of clear liquor and/or a fine crystal/precipitate/particle fraction without the need for an external classification device. The peripheral settling zone (10) may wrap around the vessel to form a continuous peripheral zone, or may wrap around only a portion of the vessel and may be located at any point along the height of the vessel that is below the level of the liquid. The peripheral settling zone (10) typically fills with slurry, but is not subject to the extent of agitation that is seen in the rest of the vessel, and thus, is shielded from the circulation of the slurry in the vessel. Hence, the peripheral settling zone (10) provides an area in which crystals may settle out of the slurry. In general the larger crystals will settle faster than the smaller crystals. As a result, a portion of the slurry may be drawn off the top of the peripheral settling zone (i.e., through the take off port drawn in Figure 7), thereby allowing classification of a clear liquor or of a fines fraction. Therefore, the crystal size may be determined internally, which allows for the avoidance of high cost, operation and space requirements of an external classifier, such as, for example, an elutriator, cyclone, and the like. Those skilled in the art, in light of the disclosures herein, will recognize and understand that the dimensions of the peripheral settling zone, such as width and depth, must be varied, and can make such adjustments according to the specific parameters of the types of crystals/precipitate or other particle being sought, the size and size distribution, the type of fluid being utilized form the crystals/precipitate or other particle and the operational conditions of the vessel.

The agitator (13) of the present invention provides for mixing of the feed stream(s), rapid dilution of the concentrated feed(s) in with the bulk of the vessel contents, suspension of the crystals/precipitate/particles in the slurry and for circulation of the fluid(s) throughout the apparatus. These attributes are important for robust operation and consistent crystal/precipitate/particle formation. Generally, the agitator (13) in the present invention may be of any configuration capable of providing the necessary liquid circulation including, but not limited to, a radial flow impeller located at either the top or bottom (or both) of the draft tube, an axial flow propeller or a marine propeller in the mid-section of the draft tube, a double propeller or multiple propeller. Preferably, the agitator of the present invention is a radial flow agitator, more preferably a radial flow impeller having at least one blade, a base plate and an optional top plate. Typical commercial crystallizers utilize axial flow impellers which, in general, are used at higher revolutions per minute and smaller agitator diameters, thus resulting in a much higher specific power intensity than is seen with the present invention.

The agitator may be constructed of any material capable of withstanding the forces generated within the present invention, such as, for example, fiberglass, steel, preferably stainless steel, PVC, titanium, glass and the like. Preferably, the agitator of the present invention is stainless steel or titanium.

The radial flow impeller has several aspects such as, for example, the number of blades, the size of the blades, the blade angle of attack and the revolutions per minute that may be manipulated to allow an operator to control the nature of the turbulent mixing and shear to which the crystals are exposed. Thus, this indirect control of the degree of turbulence attenuation, allows for mixing and dilution of the concentrated feed stream(s), suspension of the crystals, entrainment of bubbles and the implementation of crystal settling regions, such as the peripheral settling zone.

Moreover, the blade size, rpm's and degree of separation affect not only the turbulence injected into the fluid by the impeller, but also the scale of turbulence (through turbulent energy dissipation, commonly referred to as epsilon). A small, higher speed impeller at the same power level as a larger impeller will produce a turbulence that is more energetic at the higher frequencies (and smaller scales), but that turbulence will decay more rapidly. This is especially true in crystallizers, as the high solids content leads to greater dissipation at the higher frequencies in the turbulent velocity spectrum.

The radial flow impeller of the present invention may comprise several configurations, such that the impeller comprises at least one blade, an optional top plate and a base plate. Preferably, however, the impeller comprises the configuration set forth in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The at least one blade of the impeller may be of any shape, so long as it provides the impeller with the proper diameter and provides the necessary pumping rate to circulate the fluid(s) throughout the apparatus. Typically, however, the blade height is about one sixth (1/6) of the diameter of the agitator. The width of the at least one blade varies with the blade angle, however typically it is determined to be equal to the agitator diameter divided by the quantity of (8 x cos of the blade angle). For example, utilizing an agitator having a 10 foot diameter (120 inches), wherein the at least one blade has a blade angle of 55 degrees, the blade height is about 120 inches x 1/6, or 20 inches, and the width is 120/(8 x cos 55) or (8 x 0.574) or about 26 inches.

Generally, the blades may have any angle capable of providing the necessary circulation of the fluid(s) throughout the apparatus. However, the blade angle for the present invention typically ranges between about 45 degrees to about 65 degrees. Preferably, the blade angle is about 55 degrees.

As long as the impeller blades are in separated flow (which occurs with angles of attack as low as 6-10 degrees), blade lift (the force on the blade in the radial direction, e.g. pumping fluid away from the impeller) is essentially independent of blade angle, but blade drag (the force on the blade in the direction of the blade movement) is dependent on the angle of attack. Separated flow refers to the blade lift and the blade drag forces being independent of one another, such that in this case, where the blade lift is constant, then the drag force is related to the effective area of the blade. The energy from blade drag is nearly completely converted to turbulence. Thus, by controlling blade angle, the amount of energy going into turbulence and mixing can be controlled. Flow rate is controlled by the impeller rpm, turbulence energy by blade angle and rpm.

The revolutions per minute (RPM) of the agitator vary with the scale of the apparatus of the present invention. Generally, however, the maximum allowable RPM decreases as the apparatus increases in size. The optional top plate (14) of the impeller generally extends over the distance of the individual blades, such that its width is substantially the same as the blade length and is generally an annular configuration. The presence of the top plate (14) profoundly affects the flow because the flow must go around the top plate (14) leading to a highly turbulent region having a highly separated flow just under the plate as well as negative pressures. This turbulent region has very high turbulence dissipation, and occurs over only a small portion of the total cross-section, but is not energy efficient. Removal of the plate, or increasing its inner diameter to where it is substantially a solid disc (rather than annular), would improve the efficiency of the impeller.

The agitator base plate (15), as shown in Figure 3, is located beneath the at least one blade of the agitator, and is substantially a solid structure having an opening capable of accepting a drive shaft. Alternatively, the base plate (15) may further comprise at least one aperture (16), but preferably a plurality of apertures, to allow the base plate to act as a non-point source for the feed(s) and/or reactants to be introduced and distributed in the vessel. Preferably, in the radial flow agitator shown in Figure 3, a non-point source feed/reactant addition is achieved by introducing the feed/reactant underneath the base plate (15) of the agitator. Improved dilution/dispersion of feeds/reactants is provided by use of under agitator addition, where the agitator base plate has a radius greater than the radius of the draft tube, up to the internal radius of the vessel. As a result the feed and/or reactants can flow through these apertures (16) and spread radially through a region of rapid mixing as it passes the blades of the agitator. Preferably in such a case, at least one sweeper blade (17), preferable a plurality of sweeper blades, are utilized to aid in the distribution of the feed and/or reactants. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the plurality of sweeper blades (17) are typically located on the underside of the base plate (15), extending axially along the longitudinal and/or latitudinal axis of the base plate (15), perpendicular to one another and may be of any length, but generally have a length smaller than or equal to the base plate diameter. Preferably, the height of the sweeper blades is tapered as they extend in the direction away from the drive shaft (e.g. a sweeper blade may have a height of 1.75 at its end closest to the drive shaft, and a height of about 1.25 at its opposing end. Non-point source feed/reactant addition has been utilized in commercial practice where the agitator base plate has a radius equal to the radius of the draft tube, however the present invention extends the radius of the agitator base plate (15). This extension does not affect the internal circulation achieved by the agitator (13). The extension reduces the fraction of high concentration feed/reactant that bypasses the feed flow through apertures in the agitator base plate (15). The greater the radius of the agitator base plate (15), the less the feed/reactant that passes through the gap between agitator (13) and the inner wall of the apparatus vessel.

Typically, a point source, such as a sparger pipe, is commonly used in commercial crystallizers, yet this type of introductory device has the significant disadvantage of having a region of high supersaturation around the outlet and a resulting plume of high supersaturation as the fed liquid dilutes and is dispersed throughout the crystallizer vessel.

The apertures (16) of the base plate (15) may be of any shape and/or size including, but not limited to, slots, circular, triangular, or square or mixtures thereof. This ensures that the fluid(s) pass through the shear zone, thereby resulting in intimate mixing of the fluids. The size and/or shape of the aperture (16) does not affect the size or shape of the crystals produced in accordance with the present invention, but are influential in the production of the shear force due to their affect on the flow pattern of the fluid within the apparatus. The size of the crystals may be manipulated by changing the chemistry of the fluid stream(s), the impeller rpm, the flow rates of the various inlet streams and their flow rates relative to one another.

Generally, the agitator (13) of the present invention may have a wide range of diameters, such as, for example about 10 cm to about 550 cm, and it is dependent upon the scale of the apparatus being utilized. The preferred agitator, an impeller, can have a diameter (as measured from one blade tip to another, opposing, blade tip) ranging from about 0.4 to about 0.75 times the diameter of the vessel being used. Those skilled in the art, in light of the disclosures herein, will recognize and understand that the measurements of the agitator (13) can vary as the scale of the apparatus changes, and how to effectuate such measurement changes, although, such changes will be defined by the scale varying method provided below.

In general, the volumetric flow rate (or pumping rate, which is the volume of slurry pumped per unit of time)), and therefore, the linear velocities (e.g. the average linear velocity is the agitator pumping rate divided by the cross sectional area of the of the area of interest) generated by the agitator of the present invention scale with the diameter of the agitator (13). For example, an agitator having a diameter of about 10 feet generally produces a volumetric flow rate of about 112,800 gpm and linear velocities of about 3.2 ft/second at about 30 rpm. Similarly, the specific power input scales with the cube of the agitator angular velocity. Therefore, having a relatively large diameter allows the agitator (13) to turn relatively slowly for the same volumetric flow-rate. Consequently, increasing the diameter of the agitator (13) minimizes the specific power intensity for a given volumetric flow rate and average linear velocity. This is described by D.A. Green in "Crystallizer Mixing; Understanding and Modeling Crystallizer Mixing and Suspension Flow" in Handbook of Industrial Crystallization, A.S. Myerson, ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, 12/01. However, there is a limit to this, since the blade tips of the agitator cannot be brought in too close of a proximity with the walls of the vessel because this could lead to increased secondary nucleation (due to crystal attrition), which is generally undesirable.

The agitator (13) is connected to a rotatably mounted drive shaft (18). The drive shaft (18), in turn, is generally connected to a motor or driving force capable of rotating the agitator (13) at speeds sufficient to adequately mix and suspend the solution or slurry undergoing crystallization. The rotatably mounted drive shaft (18) may be a solid shaft, or conversely, may be hollow to allow it to act as a single or multiple inlet pipe to deposit the fluid within the agitator-swept volume (19). Similarly, the agitator itself may also be hollow, wherein the at least one fluid stream may be fed through the agitator and dispersed at one or several points along the agitator, for example, along the at least one blade and/or blade tip.

The draft tube (23) of the present invention is generally used to direct the circulation of the fluid(s) which surrounds it, thereby providing for the intimate mixing of the feed/reactants leading to the formation and homogenous distribution of crystals/precipitate/particles. More particularly, the draft tube (23) provides a channel (24), between an outer portion of the draft tube wall (25) and the inner portion of the cylindrical shell (26) of the vessel. After entering into the swept volume (19) of the radial flow agitator, the fluid is directed substantially upwards towards the top of the draft tube by the baffles. The fluid then flows into the channel (24), and ultimately, is drawn back towards the impeller by traveling along the length of the draft tube (23) until it pours over the top of the tube. Optionally, and of particular use in batch applications, where the vessel volume is not fully utilized or where the slurry fill level increases or decreases throughout the batch, the draft tube (23) of the present invention further includes at least one window (27), preferably a plurality of windows, located along the height of the draft tube. This permits forced circulation of the slurry upwards on the outside of the draft tube and downwards on the inside of the draft tube. Additionally, in general since the flow towards the center of the apparatus at the top of the draft tube (23) is separated, the flow along the inside of the top part of the draft tube is upwards, such that only about 70% of the draft tube at the top is really used, thereby reducing the effective area of the draft tube (23). However, the window(s) (27) of the present invention allow for the use of a greater percentage of the draft tube.

Preferably, the draft tube (23) is a cylinder that is arranged concentrically within the vessel, wherein the draft tube has a diameter that is about 0.7 times the diameter of the vessel. The use of this draft tube is advantageous over conventional crystallizer draft tubes since, geometrically, it is the diameter that enables equal volumes inside and outside of the draft tube. Preferably, the draft tube is a tapered cylinder, wherein the tapered draft tube has a top diameter (28) and a bottom diameter (29), such that the top diameter is greater than the bottom diameter. The draft tube may be tapered in either a linear or non-linear fashion or even a frustrum of a cone plus a straight cylinder. Alternatively, the draft tube may be a substantially straight cylinder having a top shaped like the end of a horn or trumpet such that it is flared out, thus having a greater diameter than the bottom of the cylinder. The configuration is determined by the settling rate of the crystals/precipitate/particles in the slurry, wherein such a determination could be made by those skilled in the art. The tapered configuration accelerates the slurry flow while it rises up the exterior of the draft tube. Generally it is desirable that the slurry rising outside the draft tube has a speed equal to the speed of the slurry falling within the draft tube. This results in equal slurry flow speeds upwards and downwards on either side of the draft tube. Equal speeds of the feed/reactant inside and outside of the draft tube avoids the generation of additional shear force during acceleration and deceleration. In the instance of large or dense crystals relative to the fluid specific gravity, the crystals will rise at a slower rate than the fluid containing them outside the draft tube (due to gravity). This can lead to accumulation or catastrophic pluggage of crystals outside the draft tube. For some materials to be crystallized, the tapered draft tube is an additional improvement beyond the cylindrical vessel diameter draft tube, since it forces the slurry to accelerate against gravity and thereby overcoming the settling and accumulation phenomenon outside the draft tube. A guideline determining the dimensions of the tapered draft tube is to maintain essentially equal volumes in the outer and inner regions of the vessel either side of the draft tube.

More preferably, the draft tube (23) further includes baffles (12) that act to direct the liquid flow in a vertical motion towards the top of the draft tube and prevent the liquid from swirling in a circular motion due to the agitator. The baffles (12) have a strong effect on the degree of swirl maintained in the vessel, the rate of turbulence dissipation in the annulus and affect the distribution of material inside the baffles. The draft tube (23) may be constructed of any material capable of withstanding the forces generated within the present invention, such as, for example, fiberglass, steel, preferably stainless steel, PVC, glass and the like. Preferably, the draft tube of the present invention is stainless steel. Another embodiment includes a hollow draft tube such that a cavity exists between the walls of the draft tube. This cavity may be utilized for several purposes including but not limited to, the introduction of feed/reactant(s) into the apparatus and/or as a method of heat transfer for heating or cooling the apparatus and its contents. Thus, the draft tube may be used as a heat exchanger.

Still another embodiment includes a draft tube having a peripheral settling zone, wherein the zone has substantially the same configuration as the peripheral settling zone that may be found on the vessel. The peripheral settling zone may be found on the outside of the draft tube or in the cavity of the hollowed draft tube. However, allowances must be made for differences in size, diameter, height and the like, due to the smaller size of the draft tube when compared to the vessel. To achieve a truly homogeneous particle distribution within the vessel (1) and draft tube (23), a higher velocity is needed in the up-flow direction relative to down-flow regions because in up-flow the particles are settling in a direction opposite the mean fluid direction, while in down flow both the settling velocity and the mean fluid velocity are in the same direction. This results in a reduction in particle damage and secondary nucleation and avoids catastrophic accumulation of particles outside the draft tube. However, the ratio of average velocities in Up-flow versus down- flow varies with suspension properties, flow conditions and the types of feed/reactants used to form the crystals/precipitate/particles. Therefore, a general ratio cannot be set forth, that is optimized for every set of process conditions. However, in general, the linear velocity of the slurry ranges from about 0.1 to about 1.8 meters per second, and preferably is about 0.9 meters per second. A higher up-flow velocity also improves mixing of the slurry/liquid in the recirculation zone. This zone is prone to segregation, particularly when the suspension level is allowed to get too high above the top of the draft tube. In extreme cases, a nearly particle free liquid layer may be formed above the circulating suspension. This problem can be reduced by utilizing a higher up-flow suspension velocity. The momentum of the faster fluid(s) leaving the channel outside the draft tube carries it higher into the zone above the draft tube and improves the mixing in this zone.

Optionally, the vessel may have a portion of its interior as well as any internal parts, including but not limited to, the agitator (13), draft tube (23), and the like, coated using permanent or thermally removable coating in order to minimize secondary nucleation and aid in rapid de-encrustation.

Suitable soft coatings include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), polypropylene, neoprene, latex, rubber and the like. Soft coatings are contemplated by the present invention because the collision of crystals with hard surfaces, such as the steel walls of the vessel, as well as any parts therein, such as the blades of the agitator, are major contributors to the secondary nucleation rate. Soft coatings on the internals and moving parts reduce the fragmentation of crystals upon collisions and are of a particular advantage for biological products. Thus the secondary nucleation rate can be reduced and a larger crystal size can be achieved. The use of soft coatings to the internal and moving parts of the apparatus of the present invention are particularly useful in conjunction with biological products.

Still another embodiment of the present invention further contemplates the use of optional secondary baffles (9) attached to the sidewall of the vessel to reduce the large recirculation zone inside the draft tube (23) at the top (mentioned above). The draft tube can be modified to use the secondary baffles (9) to create a gentler change in direction of the liquid as it makes the turn from up-flow to down-flow at the top of the draft tube. The recirculation results from the momentum of the liquid making the 180 degree change of direction from up- to down-flow at the top of the draft tube. The flow of liquid cannot instantaneously make the sharp 180 degree change of direction, particularly that portion of the up-flow for which the change is most severe at the position immediately adjacent to the draft tube. As a consequence, the flow separates from the draft tube at the top as it turns and does not follow the inside of the draft tube, but instead forms a core of down flow inside a weakly recirculating zone inside and adjacent to the draft tube. This constricts the down-flow to a highspeed core. The tapered shaping of the top of the draft tube decreases both the size and velocity of the zone. It is also a means of increasing the up-flow velocity locally into the zone above the draft tube, having the benefit of improved mixing of this zone, as described above.

Generally, the apparatus (30) operates by having fluid(s) (feed/reactant(s)) introduced into the apparatus via the at least one port (11) and/or through at least one feed/reactants pipe. The fluid(s) is deposited inside the vessel (1), preferably in close proximity to the agitator (13) and fed to the agitator. The fluids are caused to rapidly rotate within the agitator-swept volume (19) due to the rotation of the agitator. The centrifugal force that is generated by the spinning agitator pumps the fluids in a radial direction towards the side wall (2) of the vessel (1) and eventually past the baffles (12). As the fluids approach the vessel side wall and/or baffles, their flow is guided axially and upwards by the baffles and the presence of a draft tube. This passage from the at least one port, through the agitator-swept volume, past the baffles and upward on the outside the draft tube induces good mixing of feed stream(s). In addition, the high circulation flow rate enables high dilution rates of the feed streams with the bulk of the vessel contents. The feed/reactant stream(s) are further mixed as the now single mixture changes its flow direction from upwards to downwards at the top of the draft tube then downward through an interior portion of the draft tube. Subsequently the newly formed crystals/precipitate or other particles are grown to the desired size before exiting the vessel and being collected for isolation or further processing. The chemistry of the feed/reactant(s) and the resultant supersaturation dictates the formation and growth of crystals, such that various mechanisms include those conventional mechanisms known in the crystallization/precipitation/particle formation art including, but not limited to, those methods described below. It will be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the size of the crystals obtained according to the process of the present invention may be controlled by adjusting the parameters of the process. For example, increasing the rpm of the crystallizer will often lead to finer particles, and adjusting the rate of addition and/or agitation will alter the particle size by altering the degree of supersaturation and mixing. A person of ordinary skill in the art may determine, using routine experimentation, the parameters that are the most optimal in each individual situation.

In the present invention, the choice of solvent depends upon the solubility of the substance to be crystallized/precipitated. Preferably, a substantially saturated or supersaturated solution is obtained upon the mixing of the feed/reactant(s) fluid stream(s) injected through their respective pipes. As is consistent with antisolvent crystallization/precipitation techniques known to persons skilled in the art, at least one fluid is typically a solvent containing the substance to be precipitated. When more than one feed stream is involved the at least one associated second fluid is an antisolvent, a reactant, a precipitant, a pH changing agent, a neutralizing agent, a dissolved salt or buffer, a cooling or heating fluid, a pressurized gas.

In the case of the addition of a secondary feed to induce crystallization, the secondary feed the choice of a particular feed stream and secondary feed stream (e.g. antisolvent) can be made readily by a person skilled in the art considering the solubility characteristics of the compound to be precipitated. For example, an antisolvent can be, a water- soluble substance which is dissolved, for example, in water, and is precipitated by using a suitable water miscible antisolvent (e.g. acetone, isopropanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, etc., or mixtures thereof), for example, 20 weight % methanol with 80 weight %, ethanol. An additional antisolvent example could include, a less water-soluble substance which may be dissolved, for example, in an organic solvent such as light petroleum or ethyl acetate, and precipitated with, for example, with diethyl ether or cyclohexane. A reactive precipitation/crystallization example could include a substance dissolved in water at high pH and precipitated with acidified water at a lower pH. An additional reactive example could include a rapid reaction between two inorganic ions, initially dissolved in separated aqueous solutions. An example of such a reactive precipitation or crystallization could take many forms, such as, the formation of a mineral salt (e.g. AI(OH)₃ or Ca₅(P0₄)₃OH, or a photonic material, such as CaF₂) or the crystallization/precipitation of a compound that forms a solid phase upon subjection to a pH change (e.g. adjusting the pH of a protein solution with an acid or base towards the isoelectric point of the protein, resulting in precipitation; additionally an example could be a carboxylic acid containing compound such as ibuprofen, which is poorly water soluble at low pH but considerably more soluble at higher pH). A salting out precipitation/crystallization example could include a substance such as a protein or peptide dissolved in a buffered aqueous solution and precipitated or crystallized through mixing intimately with a solution of a salt dissolved for example in water (such as sodium chloride or ammonium sulphate).

A cooling driven crystallization/precipitation example could include a substance dissolved in a solvent and crystallized/precipitated by shock cooling, where a second liquid stream could be a refrigerated solvent such as for example water, ethylene glycol or ammonia. Temperature of operation is one parameter that can affect solubility of substances, and thus, the yield of the process. For many materials, the yield can be maximized by operating at low temperatures. However, careful choice of antisolvents enables increased yields at room temperature operation of the process. Maximizing the yield of this process, however, is not an essential aspect of the process according to the present invention. The present invention simply requires the temperature to be appropriate so that crystallization results. The temperature at which crystallization results is determined from solubility data, in some instances, solubility data is available in tables found, for example, in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 73^rd edition, CRC Press or in scientific literature. When the present invention is utilized as part of a continuous process, the rate of addition of the solvent(s) and anti-solvent(s) through the pipes may be controlled by any known method, a non-limiting example being a pump. Generally, those persons skilled in the art will recognize and understand those methods with which flow rates to typical crystallizer devices may be restricted, such as including, but not limited to, using metering valves. Thus, those same methods are applicable to the present invention. The rates of solvent and antisolvent addition are limited only by the equipment used to control it. The fluids are added at a rate equivalent to the outflow, i.e., the sum of the inlet flow rates for the solvent(s) and antisolvent(s) is equal to the rate of the slurry exiting the process. When two or more feed/reactant streams are utilized, the ratio of the two or more inlet streams may be any value as determined by the phase diagrams of the materials, as would be well known to one skilled in the art. If one or more of the fluids is a slurry/suspension, seeding of the crystals/precipitates may result, wherein the crystals/precipitates formed according to the process are caused to crystallize/precipitate onto either the same substance being crystallized/precipitated, or onto a different substance that is, for example, suspended in at least one of the fluid streams being fed into the vessel.

Upon exiting the apparatus of the present invention, the precipitate/crystallized particles may be removed from the fluid mixture (e.g. filtration, centrifugation and the like). Optionally, the precipitated compound may be dried by conventional methods generally known to persons skilled in the art. Examples of such methods include, but not limited to, tray-drying, oven-drying, flash-drying and air-drying. Optionally, prior to the drying step, the crystallized or precipitated particles may be separated out of the combined fluid mixture by using solid/liquid separation techniques generally known to persons skilled in the art, for example, filtration, settling, centrifugation, and the like.

In addition, the present invention may be utilized for the production of any variety of small, high surface area particles that can be used as carrier particles for liquids or as seeds for crystallization or precipitation. The crystals/precipitate formed by the process of the invention can, in many cases, also be concurrently or subsequently coated with moisture barriers, taste-masking agents, or other additives that enhance the attributes of the crystallized pharmaceuticals. Likewise, the active substance crystals/particles can be formulated with other agents (such as excipients, surfactants, polymers) to provide the substance in an appropriate dosage form (e.g. tablets, capsules, etc) Thus, in the process of the present invention, in addition to the substance, a surfactant, emulsifier, stabilizer may be introduced as another fluid stream into the shear zone, resulting in the stabilization of the precipitated dispersion. The apparatus of the present invention can also be utilized in processes other than forming crystals/precipitate or particles including, but not limited to (i) the use of this vessel as a fermentor, (ii) the use of the annular settling zone for liquid/liquid extraction during fermentation, and (iii) the use of this vessel for heterogeneous catalyst reactions.

This vessel (1) can also be used as a fermentor for cell culture purposes.

In situ product removal from a fermentor of this design can be achieved using the minimally agitated peripheral settling zone (10) described above. This would be possible in a liquid/liquid extraction mode of use. The lower density liquid concentrates progressively towards the top of the peripheral settling zone.

For use of this vessel (1) as a fermentor, the minimal power input characteristic of the agitator (13) would enable mechanically sensitive microorganisms to be suspended without exposure to high shear forces. For example, a filamentous yeast could be used in a cell culture, which would otherwise be broken up by the agitators commonly used in cell culture processes.

For fermentation products where the cell product is, in fact, toxic to the cell when it exceeds a threshold concentration or causes product inhibition, in situ product removal can be used to overcome this constraint by using an immiscible extraction solvent as an emulsion in the vessel. The emulsion can be introduced to the fermentor at a number of possible locations, so that it circulates around the vessel (1) with the cells, products and medium. Preferably, however, the feed/reactant streams are introduced underneath the agitator base plate and/or from an upstream sparger that is in close proximity to the agitator inside the draft tube. The toxic (or other) product would partition into the extraction solvent. To withdraw the fermentation product, without terminating the fermentation, the extraction solvent can be continuously concentrated and drawn off using the peripheral settling zone (10). In this zone, the extraction solvent such as an organic liquid (where its specific gravity is less than the cell culture medium) rises in the annular zone and concentrates progressively towards the top. The concentrated or coalesced dispersion can be continuously drawn off from the fermentor via the take off nozzle at the top of the peripheral settling zone (10). This material can be sent to a stripping process to separate the product from the extraction solvent. Regenerated extraction solvent can be returned to an emulsification step and then back into the fermentor vessel.

The present invention can also be used for heterogeneous catalyst reactions since the high rate of internal circulation enables good mass transfer. In addition, the low specific power input enables less attrition of the catalyst particles than a conventional stirred tank reactor. While this advantage has general utility for heterogeneous catalysis, immobilized enzymes and cross-linked enzyme crystals (CLEC^R), (a trademark of the Altus Corporation), are mechanically sensitive heterogeneous catalysts that benefit well from the reduced specific power intensity features of this apparatus.

Biological products may be natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic (e.g., peptides, proteins, enzymes, nucleotides and the like) have been demonstrated to be crystallized in bulk vessels (e.g., glucose isomerase enzyme). Also biological products have been demonstrated to precipitate in a non-crystalline or semicrystalline state (for example soy protein isolates). In these cases of precipitation, the physical properties of the biological product precipitation process follows a number of process operational principles of crystallization such as the benefit of good suspension of the particles and the benefits of as low of a specific power intensity as practically possible. Biological products typically crystallize into particles that are more sensitive to mechanical damage than smaller molecules, salts or minerals. Thus the gentle agitation feature of this crystallizer vessel has particular utility for the crystallization of biological products. One reason for this is that breakage of crystals is minimized, leading to significantly less secondary nucleation and thus a larger mean crystal size and narrower size distribution. Larger crystals tend to be more pure than smaller crystals, since the impurities are found mostly in mother liquor which adheres to the surface of crystals. Larger crystals have less surface area per unit volume. A larger crystal size also makes downstream solid/liquid separation easier to achieve. Crystallization of biological products is commonly achieved through the use of salting out techniques or pH adjustment. In these instances of crystallization, the means of introducing the concentrated salting out solution or acid/base has a major impact on the rate of nucleation and formation of crystals/precipitates. The non-point source feed/reactant technique used for this vessel gives a significant advantage over more common sparger type feed/reactant introduction pipes for crystallizing biological products. This approach avoids the formation of very fine precipitates around the point of introduction, leading to larger, better formed crystalline particles. Although not a requirement for processing, biological product as well as many pharmaceutical crystallization processes are most suited to batch operation. In these instances, except where crystallization is induced via thermal techniques, the liquid level in the vessel increases during the time course of the crystallization batch. For a vessel with a draft tube, this presents a liquid circulation problem early in the batch when the low liquid height prevents the passage of liquid/slurry over the top of the draft tube to recirculate back down towards the agitator. To overcome this limitation, open windows can be placed in the draft tube to enable passage of liquid/slurry from the outside of the draft tube to the inside of the draft tube, when the liquid/slurry level is less than the height of the draft tube. This enables recirculation of the slurry/liquid for the period of the batch when the liquid level is below the draft tube height.

The biological products include, for example, foods and food ingredients. The water soluble and water insoluble foods and food ingredients that can be crystallized or precipitated include, but are not limited to, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, proteins, peptides, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, salts, food colors, enzymes, sweeteners, anti-caking agents, thickeners, emulsifiers, stabilizers, anti-microbial agents, antioxidants, polypeptides, , small organic molecule therapeutics, co-factors, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, RNA sequences, DNA sequences, vaccines, immunoglobulins, monoclonal or other antibodies, viruses, gene therapy vectors, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, colorants and other pigments, and mixtures thereof. Further substances that can be crystallized/precipitated in the apparatus of the present invention include, but are not limited to biopharmaceuticals as defined above, drug compounds, such as, for example crop protection chemicals. The present invention provides the ability to create drug crystals that are either finer or more coarse than typically produced by bulk crystallization (about 50 micron), and thus the present invention will enable poorly water soluble drugs to have a higher dissolution rate without the need/cost/contamination associated with milling processes or without the need to introduce solubility enhancing agents such as cyclodextrins or surfactants.

The pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical substances may be those delivered via a pulmonary delivery mechanism, a parenteral delivery mechanism, a transdermal delivery mechanism, an oral delivery mechanism, an ocular delivery mechanism, a suppository or vaginal delivery mechanism, an aural delivery mechanism, a nasal delivery mechanism and an implanted delivery mechanism. Further pharmaceutical substances that may be produced by the present invention include water soluble and water insoluble pharmaceutical substances, but are not limited to, anabolic steroids, analeptics, analgesics, anesthetics, antacids, anti-arrthymics, anti- asthmatics, antibiotics, anti-cariogenics, anticoagulants, anticolonergics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antidiabetics, antidiarrheals, anti- emetics, anti-epileptics, antifungals, antihelmintics, antihemorrhoidals, antihistamines, antihormones, antihypertensives, anti-hypotensives, anti- inflammatories, antimuscarinics, antimycotics, antineoplastics, anti-obesity drugs, antiplaque agents, antiprotozoals, antipsychotics, antiseptics, anti- spasmotics, anti-thrombics, antitussives, antivirals, anxiolytics, astringents, beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs, bile acids, breath fresheners, bronchospasmolytic drugs, bronchodilators, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, contraceptives, corticosteriods, decongestants, diagnostics, digestives, diuretics, dopaminergics, electrolytes, emetics, expectorants, haemostatic drugs, hormones, hormone replacement therapy drugs, hypnotics, hypoglycemic drugs, immunosuppressants, impotence drugs, laxatives, lipid regulators, mucolytics, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, nutraceuticals, pain relievers, parasympathicolytics, parasympathicomimetics, prostagladins, ' psychostimulants, psychotropics, sedatives, sex steroids, spasmolytics, steroids, stimulants, sulfonamides, sympathicolytics, sympathicomimetics, sympathomimetics, thyreomimetics, thyreostatic drugs, vasodialators, vitamins, xanthines, and mixtures thereof.

As shown in figures 8 and/or 9, the present invention also contemplates the use of an ultrafiltration operation (or other cross flow filtration device) in a closed loop with a biological product crystallizer. Supersaturation can be induced via concentration at the ultrafiltration membrane interface. This has distinct advantages over salting out or reactive crystallization, since the higher supersaturation is well distributed over the area of the membrane, rather than at the region of feed/reactant introduction. In addition, the use of a membrane process in tandem to the crystallizer would enable a smaller volume batch to be used than the more dilute option where salting out is used to induce crystallization. For macromolecular biological products including peptides, enzymes, proteins and polysaccharides, each of which can be rejected by the pore size of an ultrafiltration membrane, the tandem use of a membrane process to concentrate presents a useful combination of crystallizer and membrane process undergoing continuous recirculation. If a fine destruction system is used prior the membrane unit, the flux would be greatest. If a fines destruction unit is not used, a cross flow ultrafiltration device would be preferred to minimize fouling of crystals on the membrane surface. Similar utility of a membrane process in tandem to the crystallizer can be achieved for microfiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes. The utility of these configurations is not restricted to biological molecules. Clean in place (CIP) and/or sterilize in place (SIP) features of a batch crystallizer are an additional feature that can be utilized in the present invention to meet the processing requirements for food or therapeutic products. Food grade crystallization processes similarly require CIP and SIP capability. Nozzles and lines for automatic introduction of cleaning fluids and sterilizing fluids at the completion of a batch are also hereby provided for this system.

Crystallization of biological products is a rapidly emerging application of crystallization/precipitation technology in the biotechnology and food industries. Use of the gentle agitation system here, the non-point sou reed feed/reactant introduction system and tandem use of membrane concentration processes provides key advantages over the currently used agitated tank style crystallizers in operation. The introduction of CIP and SIP systems are one requirement to meet hygienic production standards. The present invention further relates to a method for varying the scale of the apparatus of the present invention. It is critical to control the specific power intensity of the apparatus. The specific power intensity (SPI) often controls the crystal habit, and for example the flowability of a powder product. Particle damage and secondary nucleation have been found to depend on the specific power intensity, the power supplied to the agitator divided by the mass in its swept volume. A crystallizer loop utilizing a pump and a separate shear zone to allow varying of the two factors independently is described in the "Influence of different scales of mixing in reaction crystallization", by Marika Torbacke and Ake Rasmuson, Chemical Engineering Science, 56 (2001 ) 2459-2473. This illustrates the need to control both factors, while also showing a lack of understanding in the industry as to how to control both factors in a single agitator, as is done with the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides a method for designing an agitator which gives the required pumping rate and specific power intensity at any scale.

The following definitions are set forth to further describe and define the method of the present invention:

As used herein, the "agitator pumping rate" can be defined using a mathematical expression which helps to describe the necessary circulating flow around the draft tube to both suspend the crystals uniformly and to dilute regions of supersaturation production and mix them as uniformly as possible throughout the desired crystallizing volume. The agitator pumping rate is given in Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook. Seventh Edition, McGraw-Hill, NY, 1997 (equation 18-2) as shown in Equation I below:

I Q = NQ * D3 * N, where Q is the agitator discharge rate (in M³/sec for instance), NQ is the discharge coefficient (dimensionless), D is the agitator diameter (in meters for instance), and N is the rotation speed (in revolutions per second for instance).

As used herein, the "specific power intensity" (SPI) describes the degree of the intensity of the mixing imparted by the agitator to the slurry passing through it during each revolution as the slurry travels around the draft tube path (as opposed to an average value for the vessel which is often used in the mixing literature). Mathematically, the SPI is defined as the power input of the agitator divided by the slurry mass in the swept volume of the agitator. Thus is can be expressed as in Equation II:

II SPI = Agitator power/(Agitator volume * Rho), where agitator power (in watts for instance) is the input to the slurry from the agitator as given below in Equation IV, and the denominator is the mass in the swept volume of the agitator (in this case with units of meter cubed divided by kilograms per meter cubed, or simply kilograms). Rho is the slurry density (in kilograms per cubic meter, for instance).

The "agitator volume" is the area of the agitator multiplied by its height, (by elementary geometry) and is expressed in Equation III. Therefore, the mass in the swept volume is:

III Mass in Agitator volume = π * D² * H * Rho/4 where H is the vertical height of the agitator (for instance, in meters).

The "agitator power" is given in Perry's Handbook (as cited above, equation 18-3) as Equation IV: IV P = Np * N³ * D5 * Rho where Np is the power number (dimensionless), N is the rotation speed (in revolutions per second, for instance), D is the agitator diameter (in meters for instance), and Rho is the slurry density (in kilograms per cubic meter, for instance). When Equations III and IV are substituted into Equation II, SPI may be expressed as

SPI = Np * D5 * N³ * Rho/ (π * D² * H * Rho/4) and simplified to:

V SPI = K * D3 * N3/H where K = 4*Np/π.

In general, the pumping rate and specific power intensity (SPI) values do not scale linearly with each other, so that as one changes the scale of the unit, these important agitator design parameters change, thus the conundrum for the designer is to decide which parameter to keep constant, which parameter to vary, or to compromise and vary both parameters. The pumping rate (Equation I) is directly proportional to the rotation speed, whereas for the specific power intensity (Equation V) it is proportional to the third power of the rotation speed, so one cannot scale up or down geometrically and keep both proportionally the same.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method to control these two primary variables by the act of changing the agitator height (H in the equation) since the discharge coefficient NQ and the power number (Np) both scale linearly with height for this agitator. Thus for a given agitator diameter, the SPI remains constant for different height agitators (because the displaced mass changes linearly with height also) whilst the pumping rate is linearly variable with height. Thereby allowing the control of both the pumping rate and SPI as the crystallizer is either scaled up or down.

In a draft tube crystallizer agitator having a pre-selected diameter (D), agitator rotation speed (N), power number (Np) and specific power intensity (SPI), a method is provided for determining the height (H) of the agitator by calculating a value for H according to the following equation: H = K*D2*N3/SPI, where K = 4^*Np/π.

For illustrative purposes, take for example, a twelve foot diameter plant crystallizer to be modeled in a pilot test program to ascertain the effects of different feed purities using an 8 inch diameter, 2.5 gallon pilot unit. If the 8-inch crystallizer is scaled on circulation velocity (and hence, blade tipspeed), the following would result:

Since this method results in an extremely high SPI compared to the plant unit, this will likely make finer crystals than in the commercial-size units. Therefore, the inherently high SPI in the small scale units cause higher crystal attrition and hence, smaller average crystal size distributions.

However, utilizing the method according to the present invention, the circulation velocity can be kept constant as in the comparative example shown above, but the SPI lowered. This agitator design procedure thus discloses a means for allowing units of various scale sizes to perform as closely as possible to each other. For a pilot agitator having twice the height, the following results:

Thus the SPI has been lowered by a factor of eight. If desired, this 8-in unit could be used at half speed. However if it is desired to lower the SPI even further (perhaps, for example, the crystals are very fragile needles), then a pilot agitator having three times the height run at 1/3 the original speed would give:

The agitator having a 3.1-inch height gives an SPI lower than the commercial-size unit; and a minor reduction in the height, and proportional increase in speed yields an apparatus design equal to the commercial-size unit having the same flow and SPI.

EXAMPLES

Examplel -Sweeper Blade Test

This example demonstrates that use of an apparatus of the present invention results in better circulation and suspension of the crystals than is shown utilizing other crystallizers in the art. A crystallizer having a 36 inch diameter, a clear vessel, with a 25 inch diameter, non-tapered (straight) draft tube and 25 inch diameter radial flow agitator with a variable speed drive as the power source. The agitator was bottom driven using a variable speed DC drive. Four 10.5 inch long sweeper blades were attached underneath to the bottom plate as shown in Figure 4. They were tapered in height, such that they werel .75 inches at the drive shaft end, and 1.25 inch at the opposing end. The particles utilized in the test were 150 to 200 micron sand particles, specific gravity 2.9 g/cm³, 1% by weight, to the fluid which was water. The measured results are shown below in Table 1.

Table 1

The results can extrapolated to predict that, for the control apparatus, an RPM of about 122 would have been required to suspend all of the sand particles, however, only an RPM of about 100 for the apparatus utilizing the sweeper blades. A difference of 22 RPM's may seem insubstantial, but when viewed in light of the fact that power is proportional to the cube of the RPM, the control apparatus would require 73 % more power (1.2^Λ3/1 ) than the apparatus utilizing the sweeper blades to suspend the sand particles in the water and off of the bottom of the vessel. Example 2- Synthetic Gypsum Process

A 3 wt. %, weak sulfuric acid stream of 40 gpm from an ion- exchange resin regeneration was to be neutralized with a 20 wt % lime slurry to produce synthetic or chemical gypsum, as shown by the reaction:

H2S04 + Ca(OH)2 -> CaS04:2H20

A 10 liter draft tube pilot crystallizer was utilized, wherein the draft tube had a diameter equal to 5.5 inches, at about 200 rpm, giving an SPI of about 8 W/kg. The resultant crystals were needle-like, and rather fine (less than 100 microns mean diameter, wt. % (by Coulter Counter ™). A double draw-off procedure was used to concentrate the crystals, by doubling their residence time (by doubling the concentration), which resulted in a dramatic increase in the crystal size. Subsequently, a 10 ft. vessel diameter Burke type unit, with the addition of a settling zone on top was utilized. The commercial unit met the full expectations of the pilot test. The mean diameter of the produced crystals by CC was greater than 400 microns (wt % basis).

Claims

CLAIMSWe Claim:

1. A crystallization/precipitation apparatus comprising: (a) a vessel;

(b) a radial flow agitator having an optional top plate and a base plate; and

(c) a draft tube, having a plurality of baffles rigidly attached thereto, arranged within the vessel forming a channel between the draft tube and a sidewall of the vessel, wherein the draft tube has a diameter that is about 0.7 times the size of a diameter of the vessel,

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, glass fiberglass and PVC.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel further comprises a peripheral settling zone.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel further comprises at least one secondary baffle attached to the sidewall of the vessel above the draft tube.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vessel further comprises a centering support.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the agitator is a radial flow impeller.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the agitator is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, fiberglass, titanium, glass and PVC.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises at least one aperture.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises at least one sweeper blade.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate has a radius that is greater than or equal to the diameter of the draft tube.

11.The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the draft tube is a cylinder.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the draft tube is tapered.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the draft tube is hollow.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the hollow draft tube further comprises a peripheral settling zone.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the hollow draft tube comprises a heat exchanger.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the draft further comprises a peripheral settling zone.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the draft tube further comprises at least one window.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the draft tube is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, fiberglass, glass and PVC.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of an interior portion of the vessel, the agitator, the draft tube and the plurality of baffles rigidly attached thereto are coated with a suitable soft coating.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the suitable soft coating is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), polypropylene, neoprene, latex and rubber

21.A fermentor comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

22. A heterogenous catalyst reaction vessel comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

23. A method for crystallizing/precipitating particles comprising the steps of:

feeding at least one fluid into the apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises at least one dissolved substance that is to be crystallized/precipitated;

causing the at least one fluid and the particles to exit the apparatus of claim 1.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one dissolved substance is selected from the group consisting of a biological product, pharmaceutical substances and biopharmaceuticals substances.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the biological product is natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the biological product is selected from the group consisting of proteins, enzymes, peptides, polypeptides, amino acids, small organic molecule therapeutics, co- factors, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, RNA sequences, DNA sequences, vaccines, immunoglobulins, monoclonal or other antibodies, viruses, gene therapy vectors, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, lipids, fatty acids, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, salts, colorants and other pigments, sweeteners, anti-caking agents, thickeners, emulsifiers, stabilizers, anti-microbial agents, antioxidants, and mixtures thereof.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the pharmaceutical substance is selected from the group consisting of anabolic steroids, analeptics, analgesics, anesthetics, antacids, anti-arrthymics, anti- asthmatics, antibiotics, anti-cariogenics, anticoagulants, anticolonergics, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antidiabetics, antidiarrheals, anti-emetics, anti-epileptics, antifungals, antihelmintics, antihemorrhoidals, antihistamines, antihormones, antihypertensives, anti-hypotensives, anti-inflammatories, antimuscarinics, antimycotics, antineoplastics, anti-obesity drugs, antiplaque agents, antiprotozoals, antipsychotics, antiseptics, anti-spasmotics, anti-thrombics, antitussives, antivirals, anxiolytics, astringents, beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs, bile acids, breath fresheners, bronchospasmolytic drugs, bronchodilators, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, contraceptives, corticosteriods, decongestants, diagnostics, digestives, diuretics, dopaminergics, electrolytes, emetics, expectorants, haemostatic drugs, hormones, hormone replacement therapy drugs, hypnotics, hypoglycemic drugs, immunosuppressants, impotence drugs, laxatives, lipid regulators, mucolytics, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, nutraceuticals, pain relievers, parasympathicolytics, parasympathicomimetics, prostagladins, psychostimulants, psychotropics, sedatives, sex steroids, spasmolytics, steroids, stimulants, sulfonamides, sympathicolytics, sympathicomimetics, sympathomimetics, thyreomimetics, thyreostatic drugs, vasodialators, vitamins, xanthines, and mixtures thereof.