This proposal strives to characterize the mechanism of dissolution and crystallization when a sparingly soluble salt is produced from the dissoultion of particulate material. In particular, the work focuses on the intensification of tis prate process by the use of microphases. The presence of very small particles or crystallites has been recentl shown to enhance the rate of transport from one phase to another. The unique aspect of this work is that no externally produced microphase will be added, and the reaction itself will produce the microphase. This process has been termed reaction crystallization; and it, in turn, falls under a class of research called "process intensification". It is part of a trend to approach crystallization studies from a reaction engineering point of view. On additional challenge to develop theoretical analysis of the complex interactions involved and then apply them to the design of dissolution - precipitation processes.
