Laboratory-scale experiments were carried out to compare different melt crystallization process configurations. namely static layer crystallization, in which only natural convection influences mass and heat transfer, and dynamic layer crystallization, in which forced convection is obtained by pumping the mother liquor as a falling film on a heat exchanger. The system utilized as case study was epsilon -caprolactam containing different initial water concentrations as impurity. The layer growth rate was varied, based on criteria of highest possible productivity, purity and yield. Based on the experimental results a study on the required number of purification stages was carried out for different process options, using a mathematical model for the layer crystallization process.