Process design for the removal of residual monomer from latex products using supercritical carbon dioxide

Removal of Monomers and VOCs from Polymers

“…Application of supercritical fluids to cleaning processes was presented in 1998 as an alternative to monomer removal in the near future [115]. Kemmere et al [116,117] studied the potential of a post-polymerization process based on supercritical carbon dioxide to remove methyl methacrylate from poly(methyl methacrylate). This process is attractive since CO 2 is very abundant, relatively inexpensive, and environmentally benign on this scale of use.…”

Recent Developments in Polymer Processes

“…Extraction applications include removal of residual monomers, solvents, and catalysts [84,85]. The swelling of the polymer significantly enhances diffusivities of solutes in the polymer matrix, allowing for rapid extraction, impregnation, shaping, and blending processes.…”

“…Furthermore, Sekinger et al [101] have investigated the feasibility of using SFE for extracting additives from styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) by determining the effects of density, temperature, flow rate, and contact time on the extraction efficiency. Kemmere et al [85] have developed a post-polymerization process which reduces the amount of residual monomer in latexes using scCO 2 . Typically, the method comprises a counterflow process, in which part of the residual monomer is converted by the increased diffusion inside the polymer particles due to the swelling by scCO 2 .…”

“…In addition, the amount of residual monomer is further reduced by the extraction capacity of scCO 2 [102]. A viability study, including equipment sizing and economic evaluation, has shown that the removal of residual monomer from latex-products using scCO 2 in principle yields a process which is both technically and economically feasible, and capable of meeting future requirements [85]. A viability study, including equipment sizing and economic evaluation, has shown that the removal of residual monomer from latex-products using scCO 2 in principle yields a process which is both technically and economically feasible, and capable of meeting future requirements [85].…”

Purification of post-consumer polyolefins via supercritical CO2 extraction for the recycling in food contact applications

“…One possibility can be the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method. This process has been widely studied as a potential alternative technique in the last decades to extract compounds, such as additives, antioxidants, UV stabilizers, residual solvents, unreacted monomers from various polymeric matrices for analytical applications and is becoming increasingly popular in polymer area [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”