The PSE Model-Based Innovation Prize
The winner for 2008 ...
In acknowledgement of increasing role in academic research, PSE offers an annual €5000 prize for the best paper describing the use of gPROMS® in an innovative way or in a novel area of application or technology.
We are pleased to announce that the winning paper for the 2008 prize is:
"Model-based optimal strategies for controlling particle size in antisolvent crystallization operations" by S. Mostafa Nowee, Ali Abbas and José A. Romagnoli
published in the American Chemical Society's Crystal Growth & Design 2008 Vol. 8, No. 8 2698–2706.
The paper was published in Crystal Growth & Design 2008 Vol. 8, No. 8 2698–2706.
We are unable to provide the full paper, as it is copyright 2008 American Chemical Society (published on Web 06/28/2008).
However you can purchase it here.
The paper presents a model-based optimal strategy for the control of particle size in antisolvent crystallisation using a detailed dynamic model that includes ternary equilibrium and crystallisation kinetics.
The predictive model was validated using an experimental unit including the necessary instrumentation and control system, and then used to develop optimal operating strategies using offline dynamic optimisation prior to being implemented online.
The judges were particularly impressed by the scope and technical depth of the paper, which scored high points in each of the five evaluation categories. They summarised it as "An excellent paper that includes complex modelling, model validation and both off-line and on-line optimisation in gPROMS".
Dr Ali Abbas, who submitted the winning entry on behalf of his co-researchers, said "We are delighted to have won this award. Control of crystallization particle size is a challenging problem. We were able through the use of the gPROMS software to not only streamline the modelling, validation and optimisation of the crystallization process, but to also understand the effects of specific interactions that play important roles in controlling the crystal end-product particle size."
He added "Succeeding in experimentally validating the optimal control strategy confirmed to us the strength of this model-based approach which is at the heart of our research, and it is very pleasing to see industry picking up on this innovation".
The organisers would like to thank all those who submitted entries for their interest and efforts. You are encouraged to submit an entry in next year's event, which will be announced in the first quarter of 2009.



