The crystal growth rates of calcite were evaluated in a dense fluidized-bed crystallizer using a constant-composition method. Several operation variables related to solution properties that affected growth rate, including supersaturation, pH, ionic strength and activity ratio, were systematically investigated. Then the crystal growth-rate data were analyzed by the two-step crystal growth model and thus the mass-transfer and surface-reaction coefficients were obtained. The effects of the solution properties on the two individual coefficients were observed. Good explanations on these effects are needed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.