Composition for enhancing the production of crystal agglomerates from a precipitation liquor

A composition for enhancing production of crystal agglomerates from a Bayer liquor crystallization comprising:

• at least one surfactant, an oil in an amount ranging from greater than 15% to about 60% by weight, and water, incorporated together as a microemulsion having an average particle size ranging from 10 nm to 600 nm;
• wherein the at least one surfactant comprises a co-solvent selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene homopolymer, a polyoxyalkylene copolymer, a straight chain monohydric aliphatic alcohol, a branched chain monohydric aliphatic alcohol, a straight chain polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, a branched chain polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, a straight chain monohydric aromatic alcohol, a branched chain monohydric aromatic alcohol, a straight chain polyhydric aromatic alcohol, a branched chain polyhydric aromatic alcohol, a monomeric straight chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a monomeric branched chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a monomeric straight chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a monomeric straight chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymeric straight chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a polymeric branched chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a polymeric straight chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a polymeric branched chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a polymeric straight chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymeric branched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, and combinations thereof.