Seeding Techniques and Optimization of Solution Crystallization Processes

Abstract

Over the past few decades, seeding strategies for solution crystallization processes have been developed for various applications, and significant improvements in crystal quality and process robustness have been achieved. Here a systematic review of seeding techniques from the preparation and characteristics of seed crystals to application instances of seeding strategies is presented. First, the dependence of the seeding strategy on the tuning purpose of secondary nucleation is illustrated and discussed in combination with application instances. Next, seeding crystallization for specific targets such as systems for oiling out, chiral resolution, and tubular crystallization processes is discussed. Finally, opportunities for further study of seeding crystallization are proposed.