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Energency response shortstop inhibition during the approach to an acrylic acid runaway polymerization
Author(s) -
Levy Leon B.,
Lakin Michael B.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
process safety progress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.378
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1547-5913
pISSN - 1066-8527
DOI - 10.1002/prs.680120209
Subject(s) - polymerization , overheating (electricity) , oxygen , thermal runaway , chemistry , acrylic acid , kinetics , polymer chemistry , induction period , materials science , organic chemistry , monomer , catalysis , thermodynamics , polymer , engineering , battery (electricity) , quantum mechanics , electrical engineering , power (physics) , physics
The most common cause for runaway polymerizations of glacial acrylic acid (AA) is overheating of the material due to mechanical failure, human error, or nearby fire. Under such circumstances, dissolved oxygen (D.O) is consumed more rapidly than the AA stabilizer, p‐methoxyphenol (MEHQ), and “oxygen stravation” is the immediate cause of polymerization onset. From the known kinetics of oxygen disappearance, it is possible to calculate D.O. concentrations during a heatup period and to predict the time remaining until that concentration becomes unacceptably low. This information provides guidance for the timely activation of an emergency response shortstop inhibitor injection system so that there is enough time for adequate mixing of the inhibitor, phenothiazine (PTZ), to prevent or mitigate the polymerization.