Solubility and Crystallization of Piroxicam from Different Solvents in Evaporative and Cooling Crystallization

In this work, the solubility of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), piroxicam, is investigated. The polymorphic form II, which is the most stable form at room temperature, was investigated in seven different solvents with various polarities. It has been found that the solubility of piroxicam in the solvents is in the following order: chloroform > dichloromethane > acetone > ethyl acetate > acetonitrile > acetic acid > methanol > hexane. Crystallization of piroxicam from different solvents has been performed with evaporative crystallization and cooling crystallization; the effects of solvent evaporation rate and solute concentration have also been studied. Both form I and form II could be produced in cooling and evaporative crystallization, and no simple link can be identified between the operating parameters and the polymorphic outcome. Results obtained in the present work showed the stochastic nature of the nucleation of different polymorphs as well as the complexity of the crystallization of a polymorphic system.

Crystal critters: Self-ejection of crystals from heated, superhydrophobic surfaces

Mineral or crystal fouling (the accumulation of precipitants on a material and damage associated with the same) is a pervasive problem in water treatment, thermoelectric power production, and numerous industrial processes. Growing efforts have focused on materials engineering strategies (e.g., superhydrophobicity) to prevent fouling. Here, we present a curious phenomenon in which crystals self-eject from heated, nanotextured superhydrophobic materials during evaporation of saline water drops. These crystal structures (crystal critters) have exceedingly minimal contact with the substrate and thus pre-empt crystal fouling. This unusual phenomenon is caused by cooperative effects of crystallization, evaporative flows, and nanoscale effects. The temperature dependence of the critter effect can be predicted using principles of mass conservation, and we demonstrate that self-propulsion can be generated via temperature gradients, which promote asymmetric growth. The insights on confinement-driven evaporative crystallization can be applied for antifouling by self-ejection of mineral foulants, for drop-based fluidic machines, or even for self-propulsion.