Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Committee Chair
Joseph A. Shaeiwitz.
Abstract
Decyl phosphite stabilizers are used to improve the molecular stability of polymers during processing and end use giving durability to the many plastic products used in daily life. By understanding the governing kinetics of the decyl phosphite reaction system, improvements and alternative manufacturing methods may be possible. Diphenyl isodecyl phosphite, phenyl di-isodecyl phosphite, and tri-isodecyl phosphite are the products of reacting isodecanol and triphenyl phosphite in the presence a sodium methylate. Concentration and time data were collected by performing laboratory reactions at various reactant ratios and temperatures.;Analysis of laboratory data shows that the system can be adequately described by five coupled ordinary differential equations resulting from power-law kinetic theory at the lower temperature range studied. The frequency factors associated with the rate constants vary with initial reactant ratio. As the phosphite reaction rates increase the power-law kinetic model losses accuracy. This is believed to be due to limiting interactions with the sodium decylate intermediate. A kinetic model following a Michaelis-Menten form with two reactants has the potential to adequately describe the system under these conditions.
Recommended Citation
Snodgrass, John K., "A kinetic study of decyl phosphite stabilizers" (2009). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 2164.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/2164