Optimization of styrene acrylonitrile random bulk copolymerization reactors

Abstract

Bulk polymerization of random styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer using AIBN initiator, in nonisothermal batch reactors is optimized using single and multiple objective functions. The objectives are selected from among: minimization of the reaction time, maximization of the overall monomer conversion, and maximization of the number average molecular weight of the product. Constraints are used for the mole fraction of styrene in the copolymer produced (so as to produce copolymer having desired properties), and on the permissible range of temperature in the reactor. Pareto optimal solutions are obtained for some sample 2- and 3-objective optimization problems. The optimization toolbox of MATLAB with genetic algorithm as the solver is used. Different points in the Pareto set are associated with different optimal temperature histories, a few of which are provided.