Structural and kinetic features of crystal growth inhibition: adipic acid growing in the presence of n-alkanoic acids

Abstract

Optical microscopy, crystal growth kinetics and induction time measurements have been utilised to characterise the influence of n-alkanoic acids on the crystallisation of adipic acid from aqueous solution. The kinetic and morphological data are consistent with a structural model in which the added n-alkanoic acids occupy lattice sites at the crystal surfaces. This is confirmed by the observed incorporations of these molecules at detectable levels in the harvested crystals.