Analysis of the process of resource utilization of AMPS kettle residues

As a widely used synthetic raw material in industrial production, a large amount of 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) is produced every year. However, many wastes will be generated from the kettle residues of AMPS production. If these wastes are not properly disposed of in a timely manner, they can result in environmental pollution, pose environmental hazards, and lead to economic losses. In this paper, a new process technology is proposed in which the waste from the AMPS reactor residue can be combined with acrylic acid (AA) to create a new polymer.This polymer has a structure similar to the industrial scale inhibitor TH3100 as shown by the NMR, FTIR and TG analysis. Scale inhibition experiments are conducted on CaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2 and CaSO4 to demonstrate the polymer's excellent scale inhibition performance. Besides, the polymer shows a low biological toxicity as proved by zebrafish toxicity tests. Thus, the proposed novel process technology not only manages the waste in the AMPS kettle, but also resources it as an alternative to industrial-scale inhibitors, producing economic benefits as well as protecting the environment.