1244
Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2004, 43, 1244-1250
PROCESS DESIGN AND CONTROL Modeling and Optimization of Postpolymerization Processes Pedro Ilundain, Rafael Salazar, Daniel Alvarez, Louis Da Cunha, Marı´a J. Barandiaran, and Jose´ M. Asua* Institute for Polymer Materials “POLYMAT” and Grupo de Ingenierı´a Quı´mica, Departamento de Quı´mica Aplicada, Facultad de Ciencias Quı´micas, The University of the Basque Country, Apartado 1072, Donostia-San Sebastia´ n, Spain
A mathematical model able to predict monomer removal and new volatile organic compound (VOC) formation during postpolymerization was developed. The model was validated in the postpolymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) containing latexes. Then, the mathematical model was used to optimize postpolymerization processes. In the optimal process, the quantities of both VAc (