Abstract
The two models proposed by Katime, I., Perez Ortiz, J.A., and Mendizabal, E. [“Simple Models of Oscillating Polymerizations: Dimeric Form Autocatalysis”, Chem. Eng. Sci., 66, pp. 2261–2265 (2011)] for polymerization autocatalytic reactions are shown to have a significant improvement in conversion under periodic operation. In the present work, the analysis of a plug flow reactor for these two models gives an identical conversion of total propagators under conventional steady-state operation. The models’ behaviour under periodic operation in feed concentration cycling in monomer and/or propagator concentration is evaluated for the average conversion of the propagators. Periodic operation of the reactor shows a distinct difference between the models. The effect of different feed concentration cycling modes is also evaluated for improvement during average conversion.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.