Apparatus and method for forming polymer crumb

A method for separating solvent from a polymer cement in a contactor apparatus comprising:

• introducing high pressure steam and the polymer cement into a first section;
• mixing the steam and polymer cement in the first section;
• flowing the mixture through a second section having a converging cross-sectional area that corresponds to an effective angle of convergence of about 6°;
• forming droplets consisting essentially of the solvent;
• flowing the mixture through a third section having a ratio of length to diameter ranging from about 8 to about 12;
• flowing the mixture through a fourth section having a diverging cross-sectional area that corresponds to an effective angle of divergence of about 6°;
• flashing the solvent from the polymer;
• and
• flowing the separated polymer and the flashed solvent through a discharge section.

A method for separating solvent from a polymer cement, comprising:

• separating residual solvent from the polymer cement within a contactor, comprising:
• a first section having an inlet for the polymer cement;
• a second section having a converging cross-sectional area that corresponds to an effective angle of convergence between about 4° and about 65°;
• a third section having a smaller cross-sectional area in comparison to the first section;
• a fourth section having a diverging cross-sectional area that corresponds to an effective angle of divergence between about 4° and about 65°;
• and
• a discharge section having a larger cross-sectional area in comparison to the third section;
• and
• devolatizing the polymer cement within a hot water coagulator.