Understanding depolymerization kinetics of poly(butyl methacrylate) using flow chemistry

. Further, a square root dependence of the rate on the initial polymer concentration was determined. Comparison of the rates of depolymerization with clearance rates during in-flow membrane dialysis showed that the dialysis process is, by a large margin, the rate-determining step in the entire process. Removal of monomer was accelerated by increasing the cross-flow rate in the dialysis, providing a first step towards optimal conditions in the flow depolymerization.