REMOVAL OF RESIDUAL MONOMERS FROM POLYMER EMULSIONS BY STEAM STRIPPING

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