Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming compacted silver nitrate bodies. A feed silver nitrate solution is introduced into an evaporative crystallizer (10). Steam is provided to a steam jacket (30) to heat the solution in the crystallizer (10) and form a slurry comprising silver nitrate crystals. The crystallizer (10) has an agitator (20) to mix the slurry and promote crystal growth. Slurry density is maintained within a desired range by controlling the rate of steam flow to the steam jacket (30) via a control valve (34). Slurry containing silver nitrate crystals is withdrawn from the crystallizer (10) and introduced to a centrifuge separator (78), for separating and drying the crystals. The separated, dried crystals are further dried by contact with an airstream and fall into a hopper (88). The crystals flow from the hopper into a translucent feed tube (96) and then into a roll compactor (100) that compacts the crystals to form the compacted silver nitrate bodies.