(407b) Crystal Growth Impedance from Boundary Layer Transport, Conformational Interconversion, and Dimerization Kinetics

Some crystal grow by exclusively incorporating one conformer or by exclusively incorporating pre-formed dimers. If the conformational interconversion rate (or the dimerization rate) is slow compared to the growth unit incorporation rate, then the kinetics of conformational interconversion (or dimerization) may impede the growth kinetics. We model these effects to quantify the degree of crystal growth impedance in mixed-suspension-mixed-product-removal reactors and for transport through a boundary layer to the growing crystals. Our analysis reveals simple expressions and dimensionless variables that can be used to anticipate when and how severely the kinetics of conformer interconversion and/or dimer formation will impact the growth kinetics. Finally, we use the model predictions to assess the impact of conformer interconversion kinetics in earlier experimental and computational reports.