Techniques for reducing residual monomer content in polymers: A review

Abstract Reducing the residual monomer content is a desire of every polymer producer, as a product with no or very low levels of residual monomer would have a different commercial appeal. The presence of residual monomer may create hazards to workers as a result of long‐term exposure during polymer processing and sometimes even to customers. There are several techniques for reducing residual monomer content and the industrial importance that has been given to the presence of residual monomers in polymeric products is reflected in the number of patents involving residual monomer reduction techniques. Nevertheless, choosing the best, or the most adequate, technique is not always an easy task, and one still observes a relative lack of scientific literature on this subject. The technique to be employed will depend upon polymer application, which determines the grade of purity, and also on polymer quality, as some monomer reducing techniques might change polymer properties. The main objective of this review is to summarize and discuss the principal methods employed for reducing residual monomer content.