Apparatus for the recovery of polymers

摘要

In an apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic rubber crumb a mixture of the elastomer with a hydrocarbon solvent is extruded and contacted with jets of steam whereby the solvent is flashed off. The elastomeric polymer and solvent mixture is supplied by a pipe 5 and is extruded from the annular chamber formed between the tubes 34, 43 into that between tubes 20, 25. Steam is supplied by pipe 3 to the space between tubes 22, 25 and to the interior of pipe 20, contacting the extruded tube of polymer solution both inside and outside, flashing off the solvent and coagulating the elastomer into crumbs; both are carried along between tubes 20, 25, quenched by water supplied through pipe 50 and carried into a vessel 2, Fig. 1 (not shown), where additional water is added, the mixture agitated to form a slurry which is continuously withdrawn, and solvent vapour drawn off for recovery. The quenching water on its way to pipe 50 passes from a pipe 4 through a cooling jacket 46 surrounding the elastomer feed section. The tubes 20, 25 have a telescopic head 21 which may be advanced or retracted by means of the hand wheel 52 to regulate the volume and velocity of the steam supply; similarly, the tube 34, 36 may be axially adjusted by the hand wheel 49. The piston 37 may also be adjusted axially relative to the tube 36 to obtain a differential pressure between the two steam jets.