FAIR-CT95-1195 A Static Mixer Reactor for Starch Graft Polymerisation (StaMiStAP)

Contacts
Further Information



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Biological Conversion : Biopolymers/Gums : FAIR Area 2.1 - Chemical and Physical Processes : Process Engineering : Starch

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT95-1195
	Total Cost	946,592 ECU
	EC Contribution	800,629 ECU
	Start Date	01/10/96
	Duration	48 Months

A static mixer reactor for starch graft polymerisation

Objectives

The interest in products of starch, grafted with (meth)-acrylates, originates from the fact that they are useful for all kind of technical applications. As starch is a biodegradable and renewable material, the use of these products to replace non-degradable/non-renewable materials becomes interesting.

Technical Approach

The novel aspect of the project is the use of a static mixer reactor for the grafting reaction. The interest in the use of the static mixer reactor for these processes is due to the properties of this type of reactor. These properties are:

• the reactor is continuous that will assure a constant product quality from the reactor side contrary to the batch processes used now for the modification of starches
• the reactor has an almost ideal plug flow behaviour resulting in a sharply defined end-product intense micro mixing, causing a homogeneous grafting process.
• the ability to handle highly viscous liquids. This makes the use of lots of solvent superfluous, eliminating partially the separation step at the end of the process
• excellent heat transfer characteristics, which permits the processing of reactions with relatively large reaction enthalpies
• a short residence time, increasing the production volume
• easy to scale up

The goals of the project include: the development of a continuous static mixer reactor for the production of grafted starch (meth-)acrylic copolymers; and the testing of the applications of the products resulting from the static mixer process.

Expected Results

• development of a new and improved reactor/process for the production of (meth-) acrylate grafted starch
• production and possible improvement of existing acrylate grafted starch products and the extension of the application of the products into new areas

Results To Date

The design of the static mixer reactor for the grafting process has been finalised and the reactor is currently under construction. Due to the specific demands of the grafting process, several extra tests of equipment and studies on the design had to be performed. Also novel constructions on mixing were researched. Furthermore an analytical technique to analyse the reaction mixture for the kinetic and static mixer experiments is partially developed. Initiator systems for the reaction were tested and selected and kinetic experiments are being performed.

Contacts

Coordinator

• H J HEERES / University of Groningen Department of Chemical Engineering / NETHERLANDS

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant

• P. BUWALDA / AVEBE R & D Chemistry / NETHERLANDS
• G SCHORNICK / BASF Aktiengesellschaft Speciality Polymers Res Dept. / GERMANY
• Dr R E CAMERON / University of Cambridge Department of Materials Science / UNITED KINGDOM