A method is provided for making large, uniform and individual crystals
from aqueous solutions including the steps of obtaining a concentrated
aqueous solution by means of evaporation; rapidly cooling the solution
from a post-evaporation high temperature to a first lower temperature,
wherein the first lower temperature is lower than the post-evaporation
high temperature and further wherein the first lower temperature is an
isothermal crystallization temperature of said solution; generating a
batch of initial nuclei by inducing nucleation at the first lower
temperature and starting crystal growth; uniformly spreading the initial
nuclei into a bulk solution; maintaining simultaneous and rapid growth of
crystals from the nuclei at the first lower temperature for a
predetermined length of time; continuing the growth of the crystals to
produce large, uniform and individual crystals for a predetermined length
of time at a temperature that varies gradually from between a first lower
temperature to a second lower temperature, wherein the second lower
temperature is a temperature lower than the first lower temperature and
further wherein the second lower temperature is an end temperature of
crystallization; and recovering the large, uniform and individual
crystals. Parameters and a system for producing lactose monohydrate
crystals using the method are also provided.