Final answer:
To recover more adipic acid, perfect the crystallization process by slow cooling and seeding. pH changes do not directly decrease adipic acid's solubility but affect ionization. Adjusting crystallization conditions may lead to more efficient recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Recovering more adipic acid without entirely boiling off the solution can be done by optimizing the crystallization process.
One way to potentially recover more product is by ensuring the solution is slowly cooled to room temperature after boiling, to promote the formation of crystals, and then further cooled in an ice bath.
This method allows for maximal crystal formation. Additionally, seeding the solution with a small crystal of adipic acid can provide a nucleation site to help initiate crystallization.
Decreasing the pH does not necessarily decrease the solubility of adipic acid in water. Adipic acid is a weak diprotic acid, and its solubility in water is generally not pH-dependent.
However, adding a strong acid to an adipic acid solution can decrease the ionization of adipic acid due to the common-ion effect, as per Le Chatelier's principle. This can indirectly affect the recovery of adipic acid crystals because it alters the equilibrium of the dissociation reaction.