PURIFICAÇÃO E REAPROVEITAMENTO DO SOLVENTE TOLUENO RECUPERADO NO PROCESSO DE ACRILAÇÃO PARA OBTENÇÃO DE DILUENTES REATIVOS DA LINHA UV

Abstract

This study investigated the purification and reuse of toluene solvent recovered from the acrylation process for use in obtaining reactive diluents applied in the production of UV resins. The study included purification steps and physical-chemical and chromatographic analyses to detect the presence of possible contaminants in the purified solvent. Thus, the feasibility of reusing the recovered toluene in the dilution of alkyd resins was evaluated, comparing its performance with that of virgin toluene. The comparative analysis of the properties of the diluted resins, viscosity, color, acidity index and non-volatile solids content, showed that the purified solvent presents physical and chemical compatibility with the virgin solvent. The results indicated that both materials met the technical specifications required for production, and no contaminants that would compromise the final quality of the resin were detected. This suggests that the purified toluene is capable of maintaining the dilution efficiency and properties of the system, without introducing undesirable products. This study contributes to sustainability in the chemical industry by demonstrating that the reuse of toluene is viable and effective, reducing the need to use virgin solvents and promoting more sustainable practices.