Thermodynamics state diagram utility

The first step in the search procedure is to put into practice the result derived from nonequilibrium thermodynamics that oscillation is a possibility only in a system sufficiently far from equilibrium. In order to maintain a nonequilibrium state we utilize a tool long familiar to chemical engineers and adapted to the study of chemical oscillation by the Bordeaux group (Pacault et al., [15]), the continuous flow stirred tank reactor (cSTR). A schematic diagram of a stirred tank reactor is shown in Figure 1. 

For sodium palmitate, 5-phase is the thermodynamically preferred, or equiUbrium state, at room temperature and up to - 60° C P-phase contains a higher level of hydration and forms at higher temperatures and CO-phase is an anhydrous crystal that forms at temperatures comparable to P-phase. Most soap in the soHd state exists in one or a combination of these three phases. The phase diagram refers to equiUbrium states. In practice, the drying routes and other mechanical manipulation utilized in the formation of soHd soap can result in the formation of nonequilibrium phase stmcture. This point is important when dealing with the manufacturing of soap bars and their performance. 

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