Selection of Catalyst for the Esterification Step of the PPT Polymerization Process

Abstract

Summary: TBOT is a proven catalyst for the esterification step of the PPT polymerization process. Previous studies have shown that the performance of TBOT is superior in terms of the enhanced degree of polymerization and shorter processing time. However, one interesting aspect which has not yet been investigated is whether with different process objectives, like by‐product minimization and controlled growth of desired functional groups, any other catalyst offers any increase in process performance. The present study gives a detailed process analysis through different sets of optimized operations, which consists basically of searching for other catalytic options for process improvements. A well validated kinetic model for the esterification step of the PPT polymerization process and the advanced Real‐Coded NSGA‐II optimization routine have been used in this study. It can be seen that with all the process considerations, such as maximization of the degree of polymerization, minimization of processing time and the enhanced controlled growth of desired functional groups and minimization of by‐products, the Zn‐based catalyst can replace the conventional Ti‐based catalyst. An Sn‐based catalyst was also found to be able to compete with these two catalysts in some cases.

An uncertainty based formal approach towards parametric sensitivity: A case study on epoxy polymerization

“…Such observation has also been observed in other engineering design problems such as gearbox design, truss‐structure design, etc. [47] and in other chemical process optimization problems, such as in deterministic multi‐objective optimization of various processes like epoxy polymerization [40–43], industrial grinding [53], iron ore sintering process [54], continuous casting process [55], poly‐propylene terepthalate (PPT) polymerization [56], and iron ore induration [57]. In this way, the parametric sensitivity of uncertain parameters can be studied for a system which can help a decision maker to fix the level of tolerable uncertainty based on the system requirements (risk handling capability) and thereby the corresponding PO front and the trend analysis among the decision variables in that PO front can be used to run the process toward further improvement.…”

Genetic algorithms in polymeric material production, design, processing and other applications: a review

“…For optimal operation, two of the building blocks should be produced proportionately as those two framed the basic blocks for polymer repeating units by reacting with each other. Based on some experimental study available in the literature, Mitra et al 56,57 included the performance of many other catalysts in a subsequent analysis. With these new sets of catalysts, totally seven of them along with their newly estimated kinetic parameters, optimisation was carried out with different sets of process objectives.…”

Simulation and Optimization of Wiped-Film Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) Reactor Using Multiobjective Differential Evolution (MODE)

“…Pareto sets of nondominated solutions are generated in all cases. Several researchers extended their study in the filed of polymer development [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25].…”