MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF EMULSION POLYMERIZATION REACTORS: A POPULATION BALANCE APPROACH.

Comprehensive process modeling is the first and, perhaps, the most important step towards more efficient process design, optimization, and control. A general mathematical framework is presented in detail here and is subsequently employed to model the dynamic behavior of emulsion polymerization (latex) reactors and to simulate present industrial and novel modes of reactor operation. This framework is based on a population balance approach, where the phase axis of the phase space coincices with the time axis. The model thus developed is very general and is readily expandable to include additional microscopic events which may be shown to be relevant in emulsion polymerization.