Abstract
This research study predicted the conversion and yield pattern for the polymerization of propylene to polypropylene. The polymerization process was performed using propylene as the monomer and ethylene as the co-monomer in a four continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) connected in series with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. Model equations were developed for polypropylene polymerisation by applying the principle of conservation of mass in tandem with the rate equation. The resulting model equation was solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta fourth order method and a MATLAB program was written to implement the numerical techniques. The deduced model results depicted the conversion of propylene from the first reactor to the fourth reactor (0.9900 to 0.0113) and increase in polypropylene production as the reaction proceeds from the first reactor to the fourth reactor (0.0000 to 0.9878) showing the conversion and yield pattern of the process. The simulated model results were compared with literature data with a percentage deviation for polypropylene and propylene of 2.2% and 3.8% respectively.
Highlights
Polypropylene as a thermoplastic polymer is used widely in variety of applications ranging from packaging, labelling, textiles such as ropes, thermal underwear and carpets, stationeries, plastic parts and re-usable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes [1] Propylene is a monomer for polypropylene production
Model equations were developed for polypropylene polymerisation by applying the principle of conservation of mass in tandem with the rate equation
The deduced model results depicted the conversion of propylene from the first reactor to the fourth reactor (0.9900 to 0.0113) and increase in polypropylene production as the reaction proceeds from the first reactor to the fourth reactor (0.0000 to 0.9878) showing the conversion and yield pattern of the process
Summary
Polypropylene as a thermoplastic polymer is used widely in variety of applications ranging from packaging, labelling, textiles such as ropes, thermal underwear and carpets, stationeries, plastic parts and re-usable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes [1] Propylene is a monomer for polypropylene production. Commercial polypropylene is isotactic and is crystalline for the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE), useful as engineering plastic competing with materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)[3] Polypropylene is economical and translucent at uncoloured phase but is not as transparent as polystyrene, acrylic or certain other plastics, opaque or colour when pigmented, good resistance to fatigue. It has a range of melting point temperature can be gotten from a differential scanning colorimetric chart with perfect isotactic polypropylene having melting point of 1710C (3400F). This research study shall involve development of model equations for polypropylene production from first principle with its rate equation, numerical solution of model equations using the Runge-Kutta 4th order algorithm and a MATLAB program, comparison and validation of simulated results and analysis of the effects of operating parameters on the conversion and yield of polypropylene
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