Crystallization of ice in aqueous solutions of glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide 2: ice crystal growth kinetics.

The crystallization of ice in aqueous solutions of glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) has been studied using a combined DSC-video microscope technique. The solutions investigated were 50w/w% glycerol and 45w/w% Me2SO; both of these solutions have a solute concentration of approximately 16 mol%. The rates of growth of the external surfaces of ice crystals from both of these solutions were determined over broad temperature ranges. The growth rates were found to be generally independent of time, particularly at lower temperatures. The ice crystal growth rate in the glycerol solution became negligible at a significantly higher temperature than in the Me2SO solution. Addition of anti-freeze protein from the winter flounder at concentrations of 1.7 and 9.9 mg g-1 was found to have no significant effect on the ice crystal growth rates in 50w/w% glycerol solutions. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.