Application of control technology developed in the polyvinyl chloride industry to polymerization processes using acrylonitrile.

Polymerization processes for PVC are sufficiently similar to acrylonitrile polymerization processes to allow a significant transfer of control technology. This transfer should be of value to manufacturers of polyacrylonitrile, ABS/SAN resins, nitrile elastomer and latex who will need to install extensive additional controls to comply with the new permanent standard for acrylonitrile scheduled to be issued by OSHA in late 1978. Control strategies and individual controls developed to limit worker exposure in the PVC industry are described and evaluated relative to applicability to acrylonitrile polymerization processes.