Modeling of Anionic Polymerization of Isoprene in an Industrial Reactor. Issue 5 (22nd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodriguez‐Guadarrama, Luis
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular reaction engineering. Volume 13:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-07-22
• Subjects: anionic polymerization -- isoprene rubber -- modeling industrial reactor -- polyisoprene; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Reaction mechanisms (Chemistry) -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/mren.201900008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-832X

Abstract

Abstract: One of the most important reasons for modeling polymerization processes is to provide a tool for estimating the risks of runaway reactions in polymer industry. This is especially important for batch processes, such as anionic polymerization of isoprene or butadiene. This work presents a theoretical and experimental research of the anionic polymerization of isoprene using cyclohexane as solvent and n ‐butyllithium as initiator. In the first part, a phenomenological kinetic expression is obtained that describes the anionic polymerization of isoprene initiated by n ‐butyllithium in cyclohexane. In the second, the mass and energy balance equations are solved to model the anionic polymerization of isoprene in a quasi‐adiabatic batch reactor. Adjustment of reactor parameters is made using the data obtained from a laboratory reactor. The proposed model predicts adequately the obtained temperature, pressure, and conversion profiles from this set of experiments. Finally, a mathematical model is developed to predict the behavior for the anionic polymerization of isoprene in an industrial reactor. Abstract : A theoretical and experimental research for the anionic polymerization of isoprene is presented. A phenomenological kinetic expression is reported for the anionic polymerization of isoprene initiated by n ‐butyllithium in cyclohexane. Mass and energy balance equations are solved simultaneously to predict temperature and pressure profiles developed during isoprene polymerization in an industrial batch reactor.