REMOVAL OF RESIDUAL MONOMERS FROM POLYMER EMULSIONS BY STEAM STRIPPING

Removal rates of residual monomers from polymer emulsions by batch steam stripping were modeled. Model parameters were emulsion batch charge, steam sparge rate, emulsion solids content, and phase-equilibrium relationships for systems containing monomer, polymer, and water. Experiments in which steam was sparged into a column partially filled with emulsion were performed to verify the model. The model and data showed good agreement. Theory and experiments demonstrated that monomer desorption was dependent upon steam sparge rate and solids content, whereas temperatures had little effect on monomer removal.