| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M31309/01 |
| Title: |
APPLICATION OF THE OSCILLATORY-BAFFLED REACTOR TO CONTINUOUS POLYMERISATION PROCESSES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Ni, Professor X |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Mechanical & Chemical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Heriot-Watt University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 February 1999 |
Ends: |
30 April 2002 |
Value (£): |
233,423
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Processing |
Particle Technology |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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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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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.hw.ac.uk |