Laser-induced nucleation of urea through the control of Insoluble Impurity

Abstract

The mechanism of non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation (NPLIN) was investigated through the crystallization of urea crystals in supersaturated (151%) aqueous solutions. To detect the role of impurities in NPLIN, the effect of filtration, doping and laser irradiation position on nucleation probability were studied, respectively. As particles larger than the filter pore size in the solution were almost removed by syringe filter with poly (ether sulfone) membrane, the NPLIN probability was evidently suppressed by filtration when the pore sizes of filter were used from 1 μm to 0.45 μm. The inhibition of NPLIN after filtration could be reversed to varying degrees by adding several kinds and concentrations of impurities into the filtered solution; as the solid particles were extra added, age after cooling for samples was no longer necessary. The increase in the NPLIN probability with the irradiation height decreases was observed when samples were irradiated at different vertical positions within the sample vial. The experimental results were analyzed with reference to the known mechanisms. As nucleation probability through NPLIN can be controlled by pore size of syringe filter, doping or laser irradiation position, several functions were established to analyze the nucleation probability distribution under the effect of these three factors. These experimental results were discussed with reference to the known mechanisms proposed for NPLIN.