Novel Materials and Directed Crystal Engineering for Continuous Eutectic Freeze Crystallization (EFC) Applications
COALTECH Project Number: E2022-1
By Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town | December 2025
Description
The study evaluates eutectic freeze crystallization (EFC) as a treatment technology for hypersaline industrial brines, focusing on mitigating ice scaling and improving ice–salt separation. It demonstrates that polypropylene graphite (PP-GR) significantly reduces ice scaling particularly in MgSO₄-rich and concentrated brines enabling longer, continuous ice production and outperforming stainless steel. While operating conditions such as increased mixing intensity and heat transfer improved ice recovery, ice purity remained limited due to fine crystal formation, requiring post-washing for meaningful purity enhancement.
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