The effect of the triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 (PP123) on the growth of succinic acid crystals from aqueous solutions is reported at two batch process scales: 10 and 350 mL. The presence of small quantities of PP123 is shown to modify the crystal morphology from plate-like crystals to block-like crystals, in a fully reproducible manner. Increasing the quantity of polymer present, or the concentration of succinic acid used, produces needle-like crystals that are less favorable for processing. In-line process analytical tools (FBRM, PVM, and Raman) were implemented for the larger volume batch processes, allowing the crystallization to be monitored in real time. The effect of the polymer on the metastable zone width (MSZW) has also been determined in designing the crystallization experiments and is presented. In addition, the effect of the individual blocks of the copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(propylene glycol), on the crystal morphology was examined, and these findings, together with face indexing and knowledge of the underlying crystal structure, have allowed a possible mechanism to be constructed for the interaction of the polymer with the crystal surface. This mechanism is supported by subsequent recrystallization experiments following washing of the block-like crystals with a nonpolar solvent.

Single crystal neutron diffraction has been used in an investigation of the structures of the amino acids L- and D-alanine. The aim of the study was to look for proposed phase transitions around T_c ≈ 270 K. Measurements of both structures at 295 K and 60 K—the neutron structure of D-alanine being determined for the first time—show no significant structural basis for this phase transition in alanine. Further, confirmatory, investigation of the structure of D-alanine at temperatures of 240, 250, 260 and 300 K also showed no significant changes in bond lengths or angles. We can thus offer no structural support to other physical measurements, which are indicative of the observable effect of parity violation of the electroweak force in these phase transitions.