Method for continuous manufacture of solid water absorbing resin

Abstract

A method and apparatus for continuously manufacturing water absorbing resin. A mixed monomer solution is stored in a storage vessel and a polymerization initiator stored in an initiator storage vessel. The monomer solution is fed by gravity or otherwise through a conduit to a lower position (below the liquid surface) of a reaction chamber of a reaction vessel at a rate of, for example, 4 gallons per minute. Simultaneously, the polymerization initiator is fed at a rate of, for example, 0.2 gallons per minute by gravity or otherwise through a conduit to an opposite side of the reaction chamber, again at a lower portion (below a continuously maintained liquid level) to begin polymerization. The reaction product forms from an upper surface of the reactant mixture (mixed monomer solution plus initiator) and travels upwardly through a truncated frustoconical cone shaped upper portion of the reaction chamber as a solid resin. The reaction product is sufficiently rigid to proceed upwardly from an upper annular edge of the upper reaction chamber portion until the resin meets an upper conveyor belt. The upper conveyor belt, driven in a counterclockwise direction, pushes the mass of reaction product onto a lower conveyor belt on which the resin cures and dries without the addition of external heat.