Modeling the continuous melt transesterification of bisphenol-A and diphenyl carbonate in a continuous stirred tank reactor

A model of continuous melt transesterification of bisphenol-A and diphenyl carbonate in a continuous stirred tank reactor is developed using phase equilibria assumption and the method of molecular weight moments. The model equations can be simplified into a polynomial system that has 17 equations and 17 unknowns. Solution of the polynomial system gives out almost every aspects of the continuous transesterification process. Molecular weight and polydispersity index, end group ratio of hydroxyl to phenyl carbonate, contents of molecular species, and lost diphenyl carbonate fractions are studied in different operation parameters.