ABSTRACT: This seminar focuses on solving engineering challenges related to the continuous production of HNBR and NBR emulsion. Part 1 - Hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) which is known for its excellent elastomeric properties and mechanical retention properties after long time exposure to heat, oil and air is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) using a semi-batch process.
Because of the huge demand for HNBR, a continuous process is designed, modeled and analyzed where potential time saving is possible in addition to the high turnover of the product. A static mixer (SM) reactor with open-curve blade internal geometry is designed based on the simulations and hydrodynamic experimental results and used for this multiphase reaction. The effect of mean residence time, catalyst and polymer concentration on the final degree of hydrogenation was studied. Further, hydrogenation in the SM reactor is modeled and verified by using axial dispersion models which are coupled with the concentrations of carbon-carbon double bond, hydrogen and osmium catalyst. Part 2 – The traits and attributes (such as partitioning, radical desorption, effect of impurities, reactor stability etc.) of a comprehensive mechanistic model that simulates and troubleshoots the industrial production of NBR will be discussed.
Bio-sketch: Dr. Chandramouli Madhuranthakam is currently a lecturer in the chemical engineering department at University of Waterloo. He did his postdoctoral research (2008-2010) and PhD at University of Waterloo (2007) and received his BE from Sri Venkateswara University in 1999, MS from Indian Institute of Science in 2002, all in Chemical Engineering. His research interests include: design and experimental investigation of static mixers and microreactor technology for polymer engineering applications, modeling, control, integration and optimization of chemical processes. He is author and co-author of a patent, a textbook chapter and at least 15 papers that are published in peer-reviewed international journals. He is also one of the editorial board members for the Journal of Green Separation Engineering.