Liquid solid fluidized bed crystallization granulation technology: Development, applications, properties, and prospects

Fluidized bed crystallization granulation technology was first applied to water softening and gradually achieved improved results from initial exploration to large-scale chemical plants. It has received wide attention and development because of its unique and excellent characteristics. For example, the process is operable under normal temperature conditions and on a large scale. It features high mass transfer rate, low water content and high purity of particle crystals, and easy solid-liquid separation. The application direction has gradually expanded to recover fluoride, remove phosphate, recover heavy metals, and synthesize crystals. This article reviews the application of fluidized bed crystallization in water softening, fluoride recovery, phosphate removal, recover heavy metals, and synthetic crystals in recent decades. The structure of a fluidized bed reactor, carrier material, fluid flow rate, feed concentration, dosage, and other important operating parameters were discussed. This work lays a theoretical foundation for the development and application of high efficiency and industrialized fluidized bed crystallization granulation. This review concludes with an overview of the challenges faced by this research focus and the authors' personal views