Application of process simulation and statistical method to acrylamide polymerization in a batch reactor

Abstract

A process simulation model and a statistical method comprising full factorial and response surface designs were employed to study and optimize acrylamide polymerization in a batch reactor. It was evaluated that the dependence of factors such as initial mass fractions of initiator and acrylamide, reacting temperature and operation time in affecting the polymer weight-average (Mw) of polyacrylamide and acrylamide conversion. The simulation model was established on the basis of a kinetic mechanism that refers to backbiting, termination by disproportionation and combination, as well as gel effect, to achieve the Mw of polyacrylamide and acrylamide conversion. Full factorial and response surface designs were developed to screen significant factors and to build reliable predictive function models for polyacrylamide Mw and acrylamide conversion. The results showed significant independent and interactive factor effects on polyacrylamide Mw and acrylamide conversion and were used to optimize the polymerization of acrylamide.