Saplene SAP Technology

Features and Benefits

Competitive CAPEX

• World-scale plant capacities available
• Global equipment sourcing
• No proprietary equipment

Lowest OPEX

• Non-catalytic process
• High conversion degree
• Lowest energy consumption equals low equivalent CO2 emissions

Excellent operability and reliability

• Various process parts operated in parallel
• Excellent powder flowability

Superior product quality

• Excellent balance between absorption speed and retention
• Very low residual monomer (acrylic acid) content
• Water-based process, no organic solvents
• Accepted by major diaper manufacturers

Additional Advantages

• Good historic safety track record, no major incidents
• Combination with Lummus Technology’s upstream acrylic acid technology

Simplified Block Flow Diagram

Glacial acrylic acid is reacted with a sub-stoichiometric amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (or with potassium hydroxide, KOH) to form the monomer.

The reactants are dissolved in water, and the reaction is initiated by UV light on the inlet side of the belt reactor. The polymerization process turns the watery solution into a gel layer on the belt. The reaction is complete and at the end of the belt the gel is cut, dried, milled and particle size classified to form the base SAP. The base SAP is subsequently treated to create surface cross-linking.