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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M31309/01
Title: APPLICATION OF THE OSCILLATORY-BAFFLED REACTOR TO CONTINUOUS POLYMERISATION PROCESSES
Principal Investigator: Ni, Professor X
Other Investigators:
Sherrington, Professor DC
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Ciba Group (Pharma/Chemicals) ICI Pre Nexus Migration
Department: Mechanical & Chemical Engineering
Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 February 1999 Ends: 30 April 2002 Value (£): 233,423
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Processing Particle Technology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Oscillatory-baffled reactors (OBRs) can offer significantly greater process control, better reproducibility and the ability to predict the final polymer particle sizes from the droplet sizes obtained at the very early stage of the two phase syntheses than traditional stirred tank reactors. Conventional polymerisation processes commonly operate in a batch mode, leading to less efficient, and in some cases difficulties in, linking with continuous up/downstream processes. The use of an OBR to achieve uniform mixing coupled with a small steady flow component to obtain a long residence time will allow the polymerisation process to be operated in a continuous manner. This will also minimise the effect on polymer particle size of the concentration gradient generated during the addition of monomer in batch operations. We will perform continuous polymerisation using an OBR and to obtain a generic understanding of the engineering principles controlling the continuous process and evaluate how these relate to the polymer and stabiliser chemistry involved. It is envisaged that in the longer term this technology will be applicable to phase separated syntheses of a wide range of particulate materials including: pharmaceuticals, inorganic and organic crystals and particles, flocs, dyes, pigments and organic intermediates.
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Organisation Website: http://www.hw.ac.uk