Crystal habit modification of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid): Solvent effects.

摘要

Crystal morphologies have been predicted for vitamin attachment energy methods. The significant differences between predicted and observed morphologies when vitamin C is grown from water, isopropyl alcohol, acetone-water solution, and isopropyl alcohol-methanol solution are attributed to the effect solvent has on the growth rate of the various crystal habit faces. This effect, particularly the role of hydrogen bonding between solvent and crystal surface is examined. Molecular modeling is combined with the results of simple experiments charting the habit shift of vitamin C as a function of the hydrogen bonding tendency of the solvent or solvent mixture.