Production and formation modelling of CaCO3 in multiphase reactions – A review

The paper presents different approaches to the proper and accurate production and modelling (multi-phase reaction) of CaCO 3 formation in the most popular, different types of reactors, i.e. continuous reactor (STR – stirred tank reactors, MSMPR – mixed suspension, mixed product removal; tube reactor), a bubble column reactor and a thin film reactor. Many different methods of calcium carbonate production and their effect on the various characteristics of the product have been presented and discussed. One of the most important, from the point of view of practical applications, is the morphology and size of the produced particles as well as their agglomerates and size distribution. The size of the obtained CaCO 3 particles and their agglomerates can vary from nanometers to micrometers. It depends on many factors but the most important are the conditions calcium carbonate precipitation and then stored. The experimental research was strongly aided by theoretical considerations on the correct description of the process of calcium carbonate precipitation. More than once, the correct modelling of a specific process contributed to the explanation of the phenomena observed during the experiment (i.e. formation of polyforms, intermediate products, etc.). Moreover, different methods and approaches to the accurate description of crystallization processes as well as main CFD problems has been widely reviewed. It can be used as a basic material to formulation and implementation of new, accurate models describing not only multiphase crystallization processes but also any processes taking place in different chemical reactors.