Suspension polymerization of acrylamide in an oscillatory baffled reactor:From drops to particles

Droplet and particle-size distribution of inverse phase suspension polymeri zation of acrylamide was studied in an oscillatory baffled reactor (OBR). A discretized population balance model developed estimates the coalescence d roplet rate and the type of droplet interactions contributing to the coales cence process in the System. In an OBR, fluid mixing is achieved by eddies generated when a set of prespecified orifice baffles moves periodically thr ough liquid. These vortices can be controlled by a combination of geometric al and operational parameters, such as orifice diameter, baffle spacing, os cillation frequency, and oscillation amplitude. This type of mixing, combin ing with a close-to-constant level of turbulence intensity in the reactor; has led to a high degree of controllability and repeatability for both drop let and particle size, and a fine particle level significantly lower than a conventional stirred-tank reactor. Genetic correlation is established link ing the final bead size and Sauter mean droplet size with power dissipation .