In sugar production, a process involves seeding of a supersaturated solution (sugar as solute) by adding 'ground sugar with few amounts of isopropyl alcohol'. My question is, why must the ground sugar be wetted with isopropyl alcohol?
thanks in advance.
Bob Pursley answered this question yesterday.
In the process of sugar production, wetting the ground sugar with isopropyl alcohol serves a specific purpose. The main reason for this step is to facilitate the seeding process and promote the formation of sugar crystals.
When sugar is dissolved in a saturated solution, it forms a supersaturated solution. In this state, the solution contains an excessive amount of sugar dissolved in it, beyond its normal solubility limit. By adding ground sugar wetted with isopropyl alcohol, we introduce tiny sugar crystals into the supersaturated solution. These crystals act as nuclei for the sugar molecules to gather around and grow, enabling the formation of larger sugar crystals.
Isopropyl alcohol is used because it can dissolve sugar and evaporate quickly. By wetting the ground sugar with isopropyl alcohol, it dissolves a small amount of sugar, creating a sticky, syrupy consistency. This makes it easier for the tiny sugar crystals to adhere to the wetted surfaces. Once the solution is mixed, the isopropyl alcohol quickly evaporates, leaving behind the sugar crystals distributed throughout the solution.
In summary, wetting the ground sugar with isopropyl alcohol helps initiate the formation of larger sugar crystals by providing nuclei for the sugar molecules to gather around and facilitating their growth in the supersaturated solution.