This work is focused on the analysis of the scale‐up process of styrene drying by adsorption onto activated alumina as a necessary step in the manufacture of styrene–butadiene rubber. In a previous work, the mathematical model was developed and the design parameters were estimated from the fitting of the model to experimental results obtained in a laboratory set‐up. The obtained model and parameters have been used to simulate the behaviour of a pilot plant that contains up to 56 times more sorbent stating their validity after comparison with experimental results. Finally, the behaviour of an industrial plant presently at work, was also satisfactorily described. The ability of the model to simulate experimental results obtained on three different scales checks its adequacy for process design and optimization.
© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry