Concentrate processing particle size issues

This chapter comprises work on electrodialysis of sodium silicate solution to produce relatively concentrated silica aquasols of very small particle size, equal or less than 7 nm. United States Patent number 4,410,405 issued on October 18, 1983 covers this process. This new process is in principle a relatively pollution free way to make silica aquasols. A 1974 economic evaluation of the patented process versus the ion-exchange resin process indicated cost savings, based on installation of a grass root plant. 

The main issues in dealing with the mechanisms and kinetics of emulsion poly merization involve the understanding of the processes by which latex particle form and grow, which includes the evolution of particle size (or particle number and size distribution, the development of molar mass and molar mass distribution the polymerization rate profile during the course of the polymerization, and hov these are influenced by the basic polymerization parameters such as monomeifs) surfactant(s) type and concentration, initiator type and concentration, tempera ture, and mode and rate of monomer addition. Research over the past 50 yean has dealt with all of these issues resulting in tremendous advances in our bask knowledge of emulsion polymerization, as is reflected in this book and othei references listed in the references of this chapter. 

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