ISSN:
0001-1541
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Chemical Engineering
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The interaction between imperfect mixing and cyclic operation is examined for several continuous polymerizations in stirred-tank reactors. The reactor is represented by a mixed model involving two interconnected ideal stirred vessels. Cyclic fluctuations in the concentration of a chain transfer agent during Ziegler-catalyzed olefin polymerization can yield molecular weight distributions significantly different from those of a conventional steady state reactor. This result is consistent with the available experimental data. It is especially interesting that the cyclic reactor effluent with a modified molecular weight distribution is of approximately time-invariant composition when the period of cycling is on the order of the reactor holding time. Imperfect mixing has a lesser effect on cycled reactors for free-radical and polycondensation polymerization than it has on cycled olefin polymerization reactors.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aic.690200109
