Description
Operate and tend batch and continuous crystallizers, vacuum pans, and related pumps, heat exchangers, and condensers to form and grow crystals from solutions or melts in chemical, food, or pharmaceutical production.
- • Adjust cooling or heating rates, agitation speed, and feed to achieve target crystal size and yield.
- • Monitor temperatures, pressures, vacuum, density/Brix, and slurry viscosity; tune controls to maintain supersaturation.
- • Record operating data, batch weights, and test results in logs or batch records.
- • Read instruments and HMIs and set valves to regulate steam, coolant, and vacuum per setpoints.
- • Clear line or discharge blockages and report equipment malfunctions to supervisors.
- • Start pumps, agitators, vacuum systems, and feeders; open valves to charge, seed, or transfer liquors.
- • Assemble and connect pipes, fittings, sight glasses, filters, and valves with hand tools.
- • Descale and remove encrustation from surfaces and internals using approved methods.
- • Weigh and add seed crystals; adjust seeding rate to meet recipe.
- • Manually stir or rake slurry to keep solids suspended and prevent caking.
- • Start draft-tube, impeller, or scraper systems to maintain circulation and prevent buildup.
- • Measure and charge solvents, anti-solvents, and additives to vessels per SOPs.
- • Load screens, filter cloths, or centrifuge baskets and coordinate slurry discharge to solid–liquid separation.
- • Install classifiers or sizing screens and operate equipment to meet particle-size specifications.
- • Place and remove containers, bins, or totes; transfer product crystals to dryers or packaging.
- • Clean and sanitize equipment; flush lines with CIP solutions or steam.
- • Sample and test liquors and crystals for Brix or solids, pH, conductivity, particle size, and moisture.
- • Maintain condensers and vacuum controls to hold target boiling temperatures in evaporative crystallizers.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
