Apparatus and method for removing volatile components from viscous liquids

An apparatus for devolatilizing a viscous polymer liquid containing volatile components, said apparatus comprising:

• a single vessel having at least one outer sidewall, a unitary interior, and at least one baffle that separates the unitary interior into first and second chambers maintainable at different levels of vacuum;
• a first nozzle attached to the vessel for entry of the viscous polymer liquid into an upper region of the first chamber, wherein the viscous polymer liquid is exposed to the vacuum in first chamber as the viscous polymer liquid passes through the first chamber for collection at a bottom of the first chamber;
• a second nozzle attached to the vessel for conveyance of the viscous polymer liquid from the bottom of the first chamber to an upper region of the second chamber;
• a manifold assembly located in the upper region of the second chamber, wherein the manifold assembly is configured to discharge the viscous polymer liquid for passage through the second chamber and collection at a bottom of the second chamber, said viscous polymer liquid being exposed to the vacuum in the second chamber;
• a discharge nozzle attached to the vessel for removal of the viscous polymer liquid collecting at the bottom of the second chamber;
• wherein the at least one baffle laterally divides the unitary interior of the vessel into said first and second chambers, said first chamber lying generally above said second chamber;
• wherein the second nozzle is connected to the at least one baffle for passage of the viscous polymer liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber;
• wherein the second nozzle is located at the bottom of said first chamber for flow of the viscous polymer liquid from the first chamber to the upper region of the second chamber, said viscous polymer liquid passing down through the second chamber and collecting at the bottom of the second chamber;
• and
• wherein the second nozzle is configured to restrict the flow of said viscous polymer liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber for formation of a pool of said viscous polymer liquid above the second nozzle, thereby sealing the first chamber from the second chamber for maintenance of different levels of vacuum in the first and second chambers.