Recent advances in monitoring kinetics of polymeric processes by this group will be surveyed. These include kinetics of monoclonal antibody (mAb) aggregation using simultaneous multiple sample light scattering (SMSLS) and monitoring polymerization reactions with Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization reactions (ACOMP). For mAb aggregation a quantitative aggregation rate, the AR, is defined in terms of fractional increase of aggregate mass per second (1AR=1s-1) and AR for several mAb are determined for different stressors, including temperature, stirring, exposure to gas/liquid interfaces, and formulation conditions. mAb instability kinetics are dependent upon the type of stressor(s). Progress in using light scattering spikes (LSS) to monitor the onset and evolution of particulates within a background of soluble aggregates is presented. Three new ACOMP directions are highlighted; ‘Second generation ACOMP’ (SGA) is being developed to monitor the onset and evolution of polymer stimuli responsive behavior during synthesis, by using multiple, independent light scattering and viscosity detector stages, with ability to change both T and solution conditions between detection stages. Early SGA results on monitoring LCST in copolymers with NIPAM of automatically varying comonomer composition are presented. Progress on development of a more versatile SGA prototype is discussed with respect to experiments planned for several stimuli responsive polymers from various synthetic polymer groups. First steps in using ACOMP to both monitor and control polymerization reactions are being taken. Ideal reaction trajectories are posited for polymerization reactions in order to produce endproducts of desired properties, then providing active control to steer reaction trajectories towards the ideal ones. Finally, ACOMP has now been installed, for the first time, in the full scale industrial reactor milieu. Some features of this technology transfer program are highlighted.

Monitoring kinetics of polymeric processes

249th National Meeting (2015)

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