Chapter 9: Reaction Mechanisms, Pathways, Bioreactions and Bioreactors


Example 9.3: Calculate Xnfor Monomers with Different End Groups

 

10 molecules of ARB initially

MWR = 100 , Meg ~ 18, we neglect MWeg wrt MWR.

At time t we have 5 polymer molecules with the following distribution

MW*

Species

By product

Conversion of monomer \(= \frac{N_{M0} - N_{M}}{N_{M0}} = X_M = \frac{10 - 2}{10} = 0.8\)

where: \(N_M\) = Concentration of monomer ARB (2 ARB).
\(N_{M0}\) = Initial concentration of monomer (10 ARB).


100

ARB

100

ARB

200

AR2B

+ AB

300

AR3B

+ 2AB

300

AR3B

+ 2AB

*Neglecting Meg

p = fraction of functional groups of A that have reacted.

There are 5 molecules of polymer that remain: 2 of ARB, 1 of AR2B, and 2 of AR3B.

\( p = \frac{\text{Functional Groups Initially} - \text{Functional Groups Remaining}}{\text{Functional Groups Initially}} = \frac{10 - 5}{10} = 0.5 \)

We are giving to calculate \( \overline{X_n} \) by three different methods, all of which yield the same result.

\( \overline{X_n} = \frac{1}{1 - p} = \frac{1}{1 - 0.5} = 2 \)

or

\( \overline{X_n} = \frac{N_0}{N} = \frac{10 \text{ polymer molecules initially}}{5 \text{ polymer molecules remaining}} = 2 \)

or

\( \overline{X_n} = \frac{M_{A0}}{M_A} = \frac{10 \text{ "A" functional units}}{5 \text{ "A" functional units}} = 2 \)

\( \overline{M_n} = \frac{2 \times 100 + 1 \times 200 + 2 \times 300}{5 \text{ molecules}} = \frac{1000}{5} = 200 \)

or

\( \overline{M_n} = \overline{X_n} (MW_s) = 2 (100) = 200 \)

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