The crystallization of sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4 center dot 10H(2)O, mirabilite) from supersaturated solutions was investigated using stable supersaturated solutions seeded with mirabilite seed crystals. The experiments were done in batch, stirred reactors in which the supersaturated solutions were prepared either by dissolution of sodium sulfate anhydrous at 32 degrees C followed by cooling to 18 or 20 degrees C or by mixing equal volumes of equimolar ammonium sulfate and sodium hydroxide solutions at 20 degrees C. Inoculation of the solutions supersaturated only with respect to mirabilite with seed crystals was accompanied with temperature increase of the thermostated solution. Despite the fact that crystal growth was initiated with seed crystals, the process started past the lapse of induction times inversely proportional to the solution supersaturation. The rates of crystal growth were measured both from the temperature rise and from the concentration-time profiles, which were linearly correlated. The measured crystal growth rates showed a parabolic dependence on supersaturation at low supersaturations. For higher values this dependence changed to linear, a behavior consistent with the BCF spiral crystal growth model. The morphology of the crystals growing at 20 degrees C showed typical prismatic habit, while at 18 degrees C when crystallized from cooled sodium sulfate solutions changes in the crystal habit to a leaf like morphology were observed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.