Author(s)

Shiying Tao^1,2, Boyang Li³, Hui Huang^3*

¹Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Nottingham Ningbo, Ningbo, China.
²Ningbo Nottingham New Materials Institute Ltd., Ningbo, China.
³School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo, China.

Feasibility of dissolution and utilization of expanded polystyrene in cycloalkane solutions was investigated in this work. The dissolution process of expanded polystyrene in several cycloalkane solutions decalin, cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane was studied. The effect of dissolution temperature, mechanical agitation, ultrasonic wave and stirring rate was studied under optimized conditions. Mass transfer coefficients were fitted. The results showed that the dissolution rate of expanded polystyrene in different cycloalkane solutions was ranked as decalin > methyl cyclohexane > cyclohexane; higher dissolution temperature and faster stirring rate could speed up the dissolution of expanded polystyrene; the effect of mechanical agitation was superior to ultrasonic condition; the solubility of top face was better than side face and under face.

Expanded Polystyrene, Cycloalkane, Dissolution, Mass Transfer Coefficient

Tao, S. , Li, B. and Huang, H. (2018) Dissolution of Expanded Polystyrene in Cycloalkane Solutions. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 8, 465-471. doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2018.810037.