Patent ID: 7771111
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: B01F,B01J,B29B,C01G,C01P

Abstract:
1. A liquid phase continuous reactor comprising a screw rotatably disposed within a barrel, and defining a mixing zone therebetween, the barrel having at least two inlets for the introduction of components for mixing into the barrel and an outlet for the discharge of product from the barrel, the screw having at least one spiral groove whereby relative rotation of the screw with respect to the barrel is adapted to axially transport the components between the screw and the barrel while mixing the components and extruding the product through the outlet, wherein the land surface area between the spiral groove forms at least 50% of the surface area of the screw in the mixing zone, wherein the groove volume comprises at least 50% of the volume of the mixing zone, the mixing zone being the sum of the annular volumetric clearance between the lands of the screw and the wall of the barrel (the clearance volume) and the groove volume, wherein the maximum ratio of the groove volume to the clearance volume is about 5:1, wherein said at least two inlets are positioned opposite one another on the barrel and wherein said inlets are positioned part-way down the axial length of the barrel in the mixing zone, wherein the reactor is provided in the vertical position with the discharge outlet at the lowermost end, wherein the mixing zone, as defined by the barrel and the screw is substantially uniform along the length of the screw, and wherein the screw and the barrel have rounded and corresponding bottom ends.