Crystalline

Crystalline
Every picture tells your story 

A new analytical instrument that allows scientists to access crystallization and formulation information at milliliter scale.

Every picture tells your story

The Crystalline PV/RR combines temperature and turbidity measurements with real time particle imaging. With eight in-line high quality digital visualization probes reaching 0.63 microns per pixel, seeing what is happening in the vial has never been easier: no moving parts, no cumbersome insertion probes. With a robust design, the probes are contained in a sealed, pre-aligned and sturdy environment, giving the user walk-up access to eight parallel particle view cameras.

You can now visualize the complete crystallization or formulation processes, and access real time particle size and shape information at the smallest scale.

Explore Crystalline's features with this interactive video

Press play to join us in the lab for a unique guided tour. Then click through the chapters to discover the features of the Crystalline instrument.

All the features you'll need

AI-based software and image analysis

AI-based software analysis ensures improved image analysis and research capabilities

Next level hardware engineering

6 times magnification reaching 0.63 microns per pixel

Improved temperature control

Enhanced accuracy, control and stability

Ready for robotic automation

Pick and place robots can be programmed to automatically transfer samples 

Advanced analytical features

Digital particle viewer, Real time Raman, Particle Size Distribution (PSD), Turbidity

Quick and easy analysis

Growth rate, particles size and shape assessment have never been so easy

See the Crystalline in action:

Nucleation within droplet

See what's happening

Have you ever wondered what is happening during the crystallization or formulation processes? How do you know if the sample is aggregating, foaming or oiling out?

Take the guesswork out of crystallization studies with the Crystallline PV/RR. You can easily correlate the turbidity signals with visual information finally getting the complete picture of the crystallization or formulation processes.

  • Polymorph and solvate screening
  • Monitoring of habit changes
  • Searching for less stable intermediates
  • Controlling growth of certain polymorphs
  • Develop and optimize your process
  • Optimize and control your formulation process

The instrument comes with eight cameras positioned in a standard configuration, capable of up to 6.0 times magnification.

The resolution of 0.63 microns per pixel can be reached without any problems, making information close to nano scale easily available while you are performing your experiments.

Color cameras option

The Crystalline PV/RR makes use of front light, which has twice the intensity of the previous model, allowing operators to visualize particles clearly in darker samples. The user can also choose to visualize their experiments in color, by making use of the color cameras option.

For more images captured by the Crystalline, download the product sheet.

AI-based software analysis for better process control

Ever puzzled over off-line analytics, trying to figure out what happened during the process? With the real time particle viewer you know exactly what is happening, when it is happening.

Crystallization usually involves several phenomena such as nucleation, growth, agglomeration, and several others. The advanced in-line particle viewing cameras and AI based software of the Crystalline PV/RR helps the user to reliably monitor, design and optimize the crystallization processes.

The software allows the detection of different crystal shapes and sizes. The user can routinely classify crystal shapes into different shape classes and obtain the three- dimensional reconstruction of the crystals. Overlapping particles are history.

  • Study nucleation and crystal growth
  • Investigate reaction rates
  • Monitor slurry conversions, oiling out, foaming, gelling, aggregation

Learn more about this new particle detection method using AI-based image analysis, with the video below.

Real time Raman

The Crystalline PV/RR gives the user access to real time Raman spectroscopy, in combination with a sophisticated parallel crystallizer with turbidity measurement. The independent Raman probes are integrated in an ergonomically designed, pre-aligned, robust and sealed module. The user does not have to insert any probes into the reaction vessel.

Visualize the process

Traditionally analytical techniques are implemented in an offline fashion, where samples have to be removed from the reaction or process, in order to obtain information about chemical composition or interactions.

With offline techniques one obtains information on a few data points in time, but the nagging question always remains: Have I missed something? With the Crystalline PV/RR it is easy to follow crystallization processes and to study polymorph conversions, hydration or the formation of solvates in slurries.

Ready for robotic automation

At a time when research facilities and laboratories are becoming more automated, the new Crystalline PV/RR is future-proofed for robotic integration. Pick and place robots can be programmed to automatically transfer samples to and from one part of a laboratory to the Crystalline PV/RR.

Laboratories can save time and reduce costs associated with manual labour, allowing technicians to focus their energy on advancing scientific research. 

This is the future of our research facilities, designed by scientists, for scientists.

Want to know more about the Crystalline?

AI-Based Image Analysis

  • Advanced in-line particle viewing cameras and AI-based software helps you reliably monitor, design and optimize the crystallization processes.

High precision optics

  • The 8 cameras make information close to nano scale easily available, with up to 6 times magnification and up to 0.63 microns per pixel resolution.
  • Front light allows you visualize particles clearly in darker samples.
  • Collect and visualise data in real time.

Enhanced Temperature Range and Accuracy

  • Run experiments at volumes between 2.5 and 5 millilitres in a temperature range from - 25°C to 150°C.
  • Make use of advanced analytical capabilities through the vial such as integrated cameras for particle imaging and analysis, Particle Size Distribution, Real time Raman integration and transmissivity.

Ready for robotic automation

  • Save time and reduce costs by making use of the instrument's improved software capabilities such as remote access and automated transfer samples to and from one part of the laboratory to the Crystalline instrument.

Reactors: 8
Reactor Type: 8 ml vials
Working Volume (ml): 2.5-5 ml
Temperature profiles: 8
Temperature range (°C): -25 to 150*
Temperature accuracy (°C): 0.5
Heating/Cooling rate (°C/min): 0.1-20 
Stirring modes: Overhead or stirrer bar
Stirring rate (rpm): 0-1250
Turbidity (%): Every reactor
Chiller necessary: Yes
In-line analytics: 8 particle view imaging cameras and/or Raman probes
Particle size and shape analysis: Yes – with particle view imaging cameras
Extra functions: Reflux, antisolvent, seeding, evaporation and pH monitoring integration
Data export: CrystalClear, Word Report, XML
Footprint (DxWxH in cm): 52 x 77.8 x 19.7
Software: Advanced image analysis based on AI

*When ambient temperature is 21°C ± 2°C and chiller cooling capacity at 18°C is about 1180 watt.

Advanced image analysis based on AI.

The CrystalClear software is compatible with all our instruments – CrystalBreeder, Crystal16 and Crystalline. It is flexible, intuitive, effortless to use and helps you analyze your data in no time.

  1. What is the optimum working volume?
    The optimum working volume is between 2.5 - 5 mL.
  2. What is the advised stirring speed?
    The advised stirring speed is between 650 – 750 rpm.
  3. What is a solubility curve?
    The solubility curve has been described as a "roadmap for crystallization". It is essentially a diagram of the solubility of the solute species in the crystallization solvent over the temperature range within which crystallization will occur. 
  4. What is the advised temperature for the chiller when I want to reach -25°C?
    Always connect the Crystalline to a chiller set between 16° - 20°C.
  5. How can I add seeds or anti-solvent to my running experiment?
    The proprietary Crystalline caps facilitate refluxing on a milliliter scale, as well as seeding and anti-solvent addition experiments.
  6. When should I use the front light?
    Please note that if the front light is switched on there will be no particle size determination on the images. 
  7. What is the wavelength of the transmissivity?
    The wavelength of the front as well back light LED is 460 nm with a band width between 400-520 nm. 
  8. What is the resolution of the camera?
    The telecentric optic gives undistorted images and can be configured with different magnification customized to the customers’ needs.  The magnifications are 0.63, 5.6 or 11.2 micron pixel resolution.
  9. What is the correct tuning procedure?
    The turbidity measurement can be tuned to clear solutions in order to make it more sensitive. The standard procedure consists in heating your sample until everything is dissolved followed by tune and cool down to 20°C. Now you are ready to start you temperature profile for clear and cloud points determination.
  10. What is the wavelength of the transmissivity source?
    The Peak Wavelength is red 623 nm.

More details? We're happy to help!