Study on the pressure effect and risk assessment of aspartic acid polycondensation process

The generation of substantial amounts of gaseous products during the thermal polycondensation of aspartic acid (ASP) can result in an increase in reactor pressure. To fully characterize the reactivity hazards of ASP polycondensation, the energy release and gas generation were comprehensively characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), synchronous thermal analysis (STA), and thermogravimetric-infrared-mass spectrometry (TG-FTIR-MS). ASP polycondensation is an endothermic process, but it is marked by two pronounced pressure increases. The polycondensation process involves dehydration, deamination, decarboxylation and cleavage reactions at two temperature zones, respectively. In the risk assessment for ASP polycondensation, the risk criterion based on thermal effects are inapplicable to this reaction. The severity and probability of such a reaction can be quantified using the reaction pressure rise ($∆P$) and the time to reach the maximum pressure rise rate (tmr_P), respectively. Ambient temperature is critical for the safe operation of the ASP polycondensation reaction. This study provides new insights for optimizing the control strategy of the ASP polycondensation process and enhancing the assessment of pressure-related risks.