Grantee Research Project Results
Monomer Removal from Latex Emulsions
EPA Contract Number: 68D40036Title: Monomer Removal from Latex Emulsions
Investigators: Athayde, Amulya
Small Business: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1994 through March 1, 1995
Project Amount: $55,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1994) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The U.S. chemical industry produces very large amounts of polymer latexes by emulsion and suspension polymerization. These polymer latexes are used in paints, coatings, adhesives, and a variety of other applications. The latexes typically contain residual monomer and solvent, VOCs that can become hazardous air emissions when the latex is used in subsequent processes. Currently, the residual VOCs are removed by steam stripping the latex after polymerization. Steam stripping of these viscous, concentrated solutions is inefficient, requiring huge amounts of steam to achieve VOC removal to the required levels.Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., proposes to use a membrane pervaporation process to separate and recover residual monomer and solvent from latexes. The Phase I program will focus on the overall feasibility of the process and will determine the separation performance and stability of their current pervaporation membrane modules with commercial latex samples. A technical and economic analysis of the pervaporation process will be prepared and compared with the current practice of steam stripping. In the following Phase II effort, the pervaporation process will be scaled up to a small pilot unit, which will be used to demonstrate process viability in the laboratory and at field sites.
Supplemental Keywords:
Monomer, Latex, VOCs, Pervaporation, Air Pollution, Pollution Prevention., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, Chemical Engineering, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Chemistry, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Chemistry and Materials Science, Environmental Engineering, residual monomer, pervaporation, air pollution control, latex emulsions, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.