(311d) Estimation of Critical Supersaturation Using a Microdroplet Evaporation Technique

Crystallization of pharmaceutical compounds from solution is usually limited by inadequate knowledge of nucleation and crystal growth kinetics. In this work, we present an evaporation-based method that facilitates rapid generation of experimental data useful in understanding crystallization processes. Solution droplets at various initial conditions are introduced into a microdevice, in which crystallization is driven by different rates of evaporation of the solvent. The droplets are observed periodically using an optical microscope and the nucleation time for any crystals formed is recorded.

For a wide range of initial conditions (0.12