A polymeric compound is provided having the general formula (A) wherein R is an alkyl chain preferably having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the chain which may be either saturated or unsaturated and may have substituents attached to the chain, and R' and R'', which may be the same or different from each other and preferably have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in a chain, are selected from alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted, or R' and R'' are linked to form a saturated or unsaturated cyclic moiety incorporating the adjacent nitrogen atom, with or without additional heteroatoms in the ring. The polymeric compound is preferably in a particulate form and most particularly in the form of nanoparticles. A method of producing the polymers is disclosed. A method of adsorbing, separating and stripping the polymers is also disclosed.