MATHEMATICAL-MODELING OF EMULSION COPOLYMERIZATION REACTORS - EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION AND APPLICATION TO COMPLEX-SYSTEMS

In this paper a mathematical model for emulsion copolymerization of se veral monomers in tank reactors, proposed recently by the authors (Sal divar et al., 1996), is first validated with experimental data obtaine d in our laboratory. Then, a systematic methodology for model validati on is presented and illustrated with application to the system methyl methacrylate/styrene. The method of numerical solution of the model is also discussed and shown to be crucial for the successful application of the model to engineering and fundamental problems. Finally, the ge nerality of the model is demonstrated by applying it to three illustra tive problems: (i) simulation of complex dynamics in a flowsheet, (ii) simulation and comparison to experimental data for a semicontinuous s ystem with a complex kinetic scheme, and (iii) start-up optimization i n a flowsheet.