(251j) Predicted Dynamics of the Average Molecular Weight (MW) on Inverse Suspension Polymerization Process Using Multifunctionals Crosslinker

Abstract- In the present work, a new simple kinetic model was developed to predict the main characteristics of super-absorbent hydrogel. An acrylic acid monomer and two types of crosslink agents were used in a semi-batch inverse suspension reaction, in order to evaluate the average molecular weight. In this process, different multifunctional crosslink agents (trimethilolpropane acrylate, tetraallylocyethane and a combination of the two) at different concentrations were tested. Hydrogels were synthetized in a semi-batch 250 ml reactor, and the experimental data were compared against the proposed model. The samples in the Maldi Tof (Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry) and HPLC were analyzed by soxtherm technique to identify the polymer soluble chain and detect the PAA (polyacrylic) and terminal groups, obtaining molecular weights ranging from 600 to 2000 g/mol. The experimental results and the simulated data compared with different superabsorbent synthetized.