Novel two-steps optimal control of batch polymerization reactors and application to PMMA production for the fabrication of artificial bone tissue

• Published in: 23rd European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering Vol. 32; pp. 163 - 168
• Main Authors: Lima, Nádson M.N., Linan, Lamia Zuniga, Manenti, Flavio, Maciel Filho, Rubens, Embiruçu, Marcelo, Wolf Maciel, Maria R.
• Format: Book Chapter Reference
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: batch reactor; bone tissue engineering; Geospatial data; optimal control theory; poly(methyl methacrylate); Proteins; temperature trajectory; optimal control theory; poly(methyl methacrylate); batch reactor; bone tissue engineering; temperature trajectory
• ISBN: 0444632344; 9780444632340
• ISSN: 1570-7946
• DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63234-0.50028-2

It is known that the applications of a material are totally dependent on their characteristics. In the particular case of the manufacture of bone tissues from polymer sources, high molecular weights are necessary to ensure optimum mechanical and optical properties. However, exothermic reactions and strong nonlinearities, which are peculiarities of such reaction systems, require rigorous control in order to achieve to the desired objectives. In this paper, an optimal control policy applied to a batch methyl methacrylate polymerization reactor is presented. The proposed methodology determines the optimal time profile of reactor temperature; if the temperature is maintained along the calculated profiles, a polymer product with desired molecular weight distribution could be obtained at the pre-specified final monomer conversion rate. The good agreement with experimental results reveals that the described control procedure is suitable to ensure that the polymer product satisfies the specifications.