Method and system for manufacture of particulate polymers

A system for manufacturing a particulate polymer, the system comprising:

• a coagulator (60) equipped with an agitator having an agitator shaft (20);
• a distribution member (40) mounted on the agitator shaft (20) and extending upwardly into a vessel (30) through a bottom wall (31) of the vessel (30), the distribution member (40) having an open top (42) in the vessel (30) and an opposite open bottom (41) facing the coagulator (60);
• a redistribution member (10) mounted on the agitator shaft (20), the redistribution member (10) having an open top (42) facing the distribution member (40);
• and
• a coagulant dispensing means (70) for introducing a coagulant into the coagulator (60),
• wherein the distribution member (40) and the redistribution member (10) are configured such that a polymer latex in the vessel (30) is flowed into the redistribution member (10) via the open bottom (41) of the distribution member (40), and the polymer latex in the redistribution member (10) overflows into the coagulator (60).

A method of manufacturing a particulate polymer, the method comprising:

• introducing a polymer latex into a vessel (30);
• distributing the polymer latex in a vessel (30) to a coagulator (60) via a distribution member (40) and a redistribution member (10), wherein the polymer latex in the vessel (30) enters an open top (42) and exits an open bottom (41) of the distribution member (40) and flows into the redistribution member (10), and the polymer latex in the redistribution member overflows into the coagulator (60);
• introducing a coagulant, and steam into the coagulator (60);
• mixing the polymer latex, the coagulant, and the steam at a temperature of 80 to 100° C. to break the polymer latex forming the particulate polymer;
• and
• separating the particulate polymer from a liquid in the coagulator (60).