Semibatch Policies for Controlling the Molar Mass of Polyacrylic Acid under Isothermal Conditions

R.J. MINARI, C.G. GUTIERREZ, V.D.G. GONZALEZ, M.M. YOSSEN, M.C. BRANDOLINI, J.R. VEGA, L.M. GUGLIOTTA

Lima, Perú

Congreso; XI Simposio Latinoamericano y IX Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros. SLAP-2008; 2008

Polymers containing acrylic acid (AA) are useful in a wide range of applications, depending on their molar mass distribution (MMD) and neutralization degree. For example, while the neutralized polyacrylic acid (PAA) of low molar mass is used as clay dispersant, the high molar mass PAA is employed as paint thickener or flocculating agent. Due to the extremely high AA consumption, it results difficult to control the reaction temperature (Tr) and the molar mass (MM) under batch conditions. In this work, semibatch strategies are proposed for simultaneously controlling Tr and the average MM of two PAA grades under isothermal and safe conditions.