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Control of polymer molecular weight using near infrared spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Othman Nida Sheibat,
Févotte Gilles,
Peycelon Dominique,
Egraz JeanBernard,
Suau JeanMarc
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.10059
Subject(s) - polymer , monomer , polymerization , molar mass distribution , infrared spectroscopy , chemistry , calibration , polymer chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , chemical engineering , chromatography , organic chemistry , mathematics , engineering , statistics
Near Infrared spectroscopy is used to control a polymerization reactor in order to produce solution polymers with well‐defined molecular weight. A model for the monitoring of both the average polymer molecular weight, and the concentration of monomer in the reactor is developed with the partial least‐squares calibration technique applied to the NIR spectra.On the basis of a process model, a nonlinear input–output linearizing geometric approach is then applied to control the polymer molecular weight by manipulating the inlet flow rate of the monomer. The control strategy is then validated on‐line during the solution polymerization of acrylic acid in an industrial pilot scale reactor. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50:654–664, 2004