PARTICLE GROWTH MODELING OF GAS-PHASE POLYMERIZATION OF BUTADIENE

Butadiene polymerization in the gas phase is modeled by a polymeric mu ltilayer model. Intraparticle mass and heat transfer effects are studi ed. The effects of catalyst size and diffusivity of butadiene on the r adial profile of monomer concentration in polymeric particles and on t he rate of particle growth are significant. Intraparticle temperature gradients do appear to be negligible under normal reaction conditions. External boundary layer heat effects are studied for various operatio n conditions. The model predicts that there is no significant temperat ure rise of the polymeric particles, even in the case of large catalys t particles. The effect of deactivation of active sites on the rate of particle growth is also studied. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.