Relation between metastable zone width and induction time of butyl paraben in ethanol

Abstract

A relation between induction time and metastable zone width in cooling crystallization has been developed based on Classical Nucleation Theory, and an interpretation equation of this relation has been used to extrapolate metastable zone width from the induction time results in homogenous primary nucleation. The metastable zone width is determined by the interfacial energy and the pre-exponential factor. 440 metastable zone experiments of butyl paraben in ethanol at five different cooling rates have been performed. The experimental metastable zone widths of butyl paraben in ethanol are fairly close to those extrapolated from the induction time results. The positive correlation between the cooling rate and the experimental metastable zone width is in good agreement with the interpretation equation, from which the relations between stirring rate, saturation temperature and volume of solution with estimated metastable zone width have been investigated.