College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-06 06:17:00
Major
Chemical Engineering
Honors Course
CHEE 497-001
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2023
Abstract
Anionic polymerizations are a common type of reaction used to produce synthetic rubber. During these reactions, it is necessary to charge initiators, modifiers, and other substances, through pressurized containers that are sealed with rubber septa. These septa prevent oxygen and moisture from entering the pressurized container, and the reactor, though they need to be cleaned before use to remove other impurities. Currently a glass Soxhlet Extractor is used to remove such impurities, and though effective, it has a limited capacity, so it has to run frequently. This limitation led to the commissioning of the Septa Extractor, which is an automated process unit designed to perform the same cleaning function on a larger scale. A standard anionic polymerization to produce a polybutadiene will be used to assess the differences between the 6 types of septa, obtained commercially and prepared in-house. Molecular weight and vinyl content of the product as well as the conversion of the monomer will be compared to determine the importance of impurity removal from the septa and the optimal extraction approach. The project's main goal is to determine the required operating time for the Septa Extractor Unit and to identify whether commercially available alternatives are acceptable.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby
First Reader
Dr. Steven Baldwin
Second Reader
Dr. Timothy Tartamella
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Jones, Abigail, "Defining the Proper Operating Time for the Septa Extractor" (2023). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1643.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1643
Final Report Signature Sheet