At-line monitoring techniques can be used to gain better control of manufacturing processes. The result of better control is a more efficient process; one where product quality is improved and operating costs are reduced. The current study examines the reaction of phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, propylene glycol and diethylene glycol to produce polyester resins. The performance of the resin is high dependent on the composition. Because it is not a simple matter to charge the batch reactor with the necessary proportion of reactants, adjustments are often necessary. To reduce or eliminate the number of off-grade batches a rapid at-line mid-infrared method has been developed. The measurement can be completed in a matter of minutes and requires no sample preparation. Initial reactant charges can be determined despite the fact that the reaction has begun by the time the batch is homogeneous and can be sampled.
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