Polymerization inhibitors are chemicals which stabilize reactive monomers and prevent spontaneous polymerization. If too little inhibitor is added to a reactive monomer, polymerization can occur in pipes or vessels and require mechanical removal. On the other hand, if too much inhibitor is added, the final product may have difficulty polymerizing at the intended stage. Monitoring hydroquinone monomethyl ether (MeHQ) in Acrylonitrile.
MeHQ is usually added as an inhibitor to acrylonitrile (a precursor to polyacrylonitrile fibers for the textile industry). The concentration of MeHQ in the monomer needs to be regulated to avoid spontaneous polymerization (to polyacrylonitrile) as well as waste of MeHQ. MeHQ has a distinct UV absorbance curve which allows the OMA system to easily monitor its real-time concentration. The full spectrum analysis is critical for differentiating MeHQ absorbance from other absorbing impurities in the sample. The OMA continuously outputs the MeHQ reading to the plant’s main computer, providing new measurements at 1-5 second intervals for extremely tight process control.
Read more: https://aai.solutions/application-notes/measuring-polymerization-inhibitor#MeHQ
