In crystallization of sugar, the best seed slurry is obtainable by wet grinding sugar in some medium (an alcohol) like isopropyl alcohol. Why is isopropyl alcohol is used?
The sugar does not dissolve.
Isopropyl alcohol is commonly used as a medium for wet grinding sugar to obtain a seed slurry in the crystallization process. This is because isopropyl alcohol has several properties that make it an ideal choice for this purpose:
1. Solvent Properties: Isopropyl alcohol is a good solvent for sugar, meaning it can dissolve sugar effectively. This allows for efficient grinding and dissolution of sugar crystals.
2. Purity: Isopropyl alcohol is typically available in high purity forms, which is important in the crystallization process as impurities can negatively affect the quality and purity of the final sugar crystals.
3. Volatility: Isopropyl alcohol is a volatile solvent, which means it evaporates quickly. This property is beneficial because after wet grinding, the mixture needs to be dried to obtain the solid seed slurry. The volatility of isopropyl alcohol facilitates the drying process, leaving behind the sugar crystals.
4. Non-reactivity: Isopropyl alcohol is relatively non-reactive with sugar, ensuring that it does not significantly affect the chemical composition or the crystalline structure of the sugar crystals during the grinding process.
It's important to note that isopropyl alcohol is just one of the many possible solvents that can be used for wet grinding sugar. Other alcohols or organic solvents may also be suitable depending on the specific requirements of the crystallization process and the desired properties of the sugar crystals.