Title: Control of solvated crystallisation of α-lactose monohydrate

Authors: Amira Rachah; Dominikus Noll; Fabienne Espitalier; Fabien Baillon

Addresses: Institut de Mathématiques, Université de Toulouse, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France ' Institut de Mathématiques, Université de Toulouse, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France ' Ecole des Mines d'Albi, Centre RAPSODEE, UMR CNRS 5302, 81013 Albi Cedex 09, France ' Ecole des Mines d'Albi, Centre RAPSODEE, UMR CNRS 5302, 81013 Albi Cedex 09, France

Abstract: We present a mathematical model of solvated crystallisation of α-lactose monohydrate and discuss strategies to control the crystallisation process in semi-batch mode with the goal to privilege the production of small particles in the range between 130 µm and 330 µm. We compare specific and unspecific cost functions leading to optimal strategies with significantly different effects on product quality. Control inputs are temperature, feed rate, and the choice of an appropriate crystal seed.

Keywords: solvated crystallisation; molar balance; thermodynamic balance; optimal control; population dynamics; alpha-lactose monohydrate; mathematical modelling; control inputs; temperature; feed rate; crystal seed selection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMNO.2015.069968

International Journal of Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Optimisation, 2015 Vol.6 No.2, pp.159 - 183

Received: 17 Nov 2014
Accepted: 21 Apr 2015
Published online: 16 Jun 2015 *

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