Michell Moisture in Liquids analyzer for production of synthetic rubber

摘要

A major producer of synthetic rubber has selected Michell Instruments' Liquidew I.S. moisture in liquids analyzer to monitor critical process at its plant in Asia. The plant produces Polybutadiene, a form of synthetic rubber, commonly used in the manufacture of car tyres. This is generated from a feedstock of the gas 1,3 Butadiene, which is pressurised to form liquid phase and then dissolved in Hexane.The reaction to form the Polybutadiene requires a catalyst, which in this case is an alkyl-lithium compound. Lithium is highly reactive with water and will only be an effective catalyst in near-anhydrous conditions where there is no more than lppm_w of moisture present. In total, six Liquidew I.S. analyzers are installed at key points in the process to monitor moisture levels in the feedstock and the solvent as well as in the drying process used to regenerate the solvent. The Liquidew I.S. is capable of measuring moisture levels down to 0.001ppm_w and can reliably give accurate readings in the low-moisture environment.