Salari - Petroleum Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz-۵۱۶۶۶۱۶۴۷۱, Tabriz, Iran.
Niaei - Petroleum Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz-۵۱۶۶۶۱۶۴۷۱, Tabriz, Iran.
Ranjbar - R&D Department, Tabriz Petrochemical Complex, National Petrochemical Company, P.O.BOX:۵۱۷۴۵-۳۵۴, Tabriz, Iran.
Seyednajafi - R&D Department, Tabriz Petrochemical Complex, National Petrochemical Company, P.O.BOX:۵۱۷۴۵-۳۵۴, Tabriz, Iran.

Poly (Styrene-co-Acrylonitrile) micro-particles were prepared from copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile in water continues phase by using batch process in order to control the particle properties. In this work , the statistical experimental method was used to compare the properties of SAN Fine particles less than 150 micron according to the four parameters:( concentration of PDE: Polyoxyethylenedodecylether Phosphate , DEMOL P :Carboxylic acid type high molecular specialty anionic dispersant, TCP: Calcium hydroxy apatite, Agitation speed).As the result of Taguchi analysis, in this study, concentrations of PDE, and TCP were the most influencing parameters on the particle size, stability of suspension, and reduction of fine particle. Agitation speed also had main effect on particle size and particle size distribution. The optimum conditions were determined using Taguchi method. It was found that the optimal synthesis conditions for the preparation of SAN micro particles with minimum fine particles in batch suspension Copolymerization were as follows :( Concentration of PDE: 0.152phm, Concentration of TCP: 0.60phm, Agitation speed: 500rpm, and DEMOLE P: 0.01phm).The above mentioned optimum conditions were used to prepare the particles with minimum particle size less than 150 micron. By using the optimum synthesis conditions, experimental results were in a good agreement with prediction value. In addition, the transfer rate of SAN beads was decreased from three hours to one and twenty minutes.

SAN, Suspension polymerization, Taguchi robust design, Optimization