Effects of pulsed electric energy on sucrose nucleation in supersaturated solutions

Abstract

The effects of pulsed electric energy (PEE) on sucrose nucleation in supersaturated aqueous solutions are studied. The supersaturation degree (S = 1.32) and temperature (T = 25 °C) were fixed. Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment without discharge was performed in the chamber with plane-to-plane electrodes geometry using exponential pulses and electric field strength of E = 20–80 kV/cm. High voltage electrical discharge (HVED) treatment was applied in the chamber with rod-to-plane electrodes geometry at E = 20–80 kV/cm. Different number of PEE pulses was applied, n = 1–20. An insignificant reduction of the induction period of nucleation was observed for the PEF treated sample (n = 10), tind ≈ 100 min. However, after the HVED treatment (n = 10) the induction period was only tind ≈ 55 min. For the HVED assisted nucleation, the time of effective crystallization decreased and a maximum rate of crystallization increased with increasing of E and n. The obtained data evidence promising perspectives for enhancing sucrose crystallization by the HVED treatment.