| abstract |
The process is used to remove the solvent from an elastomeric polymer solution containing at least 8% by weight of elastomeric polymer. The elastomeric polymer solution undergoes a preprocessing step in order to remove a large part of the solvent. Thereafter, the elastomeric polymer solution is fed into a main extruder in order to remove the remaining solvent. The preprocessing step includes: (a) introducing a heating fluid and the elastomeric polymer solution into a static mixer in order to mix the heating fluid and the elastomeric polymer solution and heat rapidly the elastomeric polymer solution to a temperature of 60 degrees-250 degrees C.; (b) spraying the mixture of heating fluid and elastomeric polymer solution under a depressurization atmosphere in order to vaporize the heating fluid and solvent out of the mixture and form a vaporized heating fluid, a vaporized solvent and a powdered elastomeric polymer; (c) introducing the vaporized heating fluid, the vaporized solvent and the powdered elastomeric polymer into a fluid-solid separation chamber; and (d) extruding the powdered elastomeric polymer into the main extruder via a polymer outlet of the fluid-solid separation chamber while removing the vaporized heating fluid and solvent via a vapor outlet of the fluid-solid separation chamber. |