Method of continuously controlling crystal fines formation

In a continuous process for the crystallization of sodium bicarbonate from a mother liquor containing crystallizable sodium bicarbonate in a crystallization zone in which process crystal fines of said sodium bicarbonate are formed, the improvements which comprise:

• continuously converting said crystal fines formed in said crystallization zone to large spherulitic crystals by continuously adding to said mother liquor containing said crystallizable sodium bicarbonate a flocculent having structural units selected from the group consisting of ##STR4## said flocculent being added to the mother liquor when the temperature of said mother liquor in said crystallization zone is about 110.degree. F. or less and in an amount sufficient to provide for said continuous conversion of the crystal fines to large spherulitic crystals.