Abstract:
Process and apparatus for producing an aqueous polymer solution comprising the steps of • (a) providing a hydrated polymer that has been prepared by aqueous solution polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, which hydrated polymer comprises at least 10% by weight active polymer; • (b) cutting the hydrated polymer by subjecting the hydrated polymerto at least one cutting stage comprising at least one stream of aqueous liquid at a pressure of at least 150 bar to reduce the size of the hydrated polymer, • (c) dissolving the hydrated polymer in an aqueous liquid so as to obtain an aqueous polymer solution.
Abstract:
A reverse-phase suspension polymerisation process for the manufacture of polymer beads comprising forming aqueous monomer beads comprising an aqueous solution of water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerising the monomer or monomer blend to form polymer beads while suspended in a non-aqueous liquid, and recovering polymer beads, in which the process comprises, providing in a vessel (1) a volume (2) of non-aqueous liquid wherein the volume of non-aqueous liquid extends between at least one polymer bead discharge point (3) and at least one monomer feed point (4), feeding the aqueous monomer or monomer blend through orifices (5) into, or onto, the non-aqueous liquid to form aqueous monomer beads, allowing the aqueous monomer beads to flow towards the polymer bead discharge point subjecting the aqueous monomer beads to polymerisation conditions to initiate polymerisation to form polymerising beads, wherein the polymerising beads have formed polymer beads when they reach the polymer bead discharge point, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel at the polymer bead discharge point and recovering water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension. The invention also relates to the apparatus suitable for carrying out a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation and polymer beads obtainable by the process or employing the apparatus.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation process for the manufacture of polymer beads comprising forming aqueous monomer beads of an aqueous solution comprising water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerising the monomer or monomer blend to form polymer beads while suspended in a nonaqueous liquid, recovering polymer beads, and then cleaning the non-aqueous liquid in which the process comprises providing the non-aqueous liquid in a vessel (1), forming a suspension of monomer beads from the aqueous monomer or monomer blend in the non-aqueous liquid, initiating polymerisation to form polymerising beads, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel and recovering, water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension, in which the non-aqueous liquid contains impurities which comprise particles, and then subjecting the non-aqueous liquid from the suspension to a cleaning stage, in which the cleaning stage provides a cleaned non-aqueous liquid suitable for use in a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation process, which cleaning stage comprises subjecting the non-aqueous liquid to a pre-heating step, passing the preheated non-aqueous liquid through a helical tube evaporator thereby forming a mixture of liquid and gas, releasing the resulting mixture of liquid and gas into a gas-liquid separator vessel, and subsequently forming a liquid stream containing solids and a cleaned non-aqueous liquid stream. The invention also relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the process of the invention and also to polymeric products obtainable by the process.
Abstract:
A reverse-phase suspension polymerisation process for the manufacture of polymer beads comprising forming aqueous monomer beads of an aqueous solution comprising water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerising the monomer or monomer blend to form polymer beads while suspended in a non-aqueous liquid, recovering polymer beads, and then cleaning the non-aqueous liquid in which the process comprises providing the non-aqueous liquid in a vessel (1), forming a suspension of monomer beads from the aqueous monomer or monomer blend in the non-aqueous liquid, initiating polymerisation to form polymerising beads, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel and recovering, water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension, in which the non-aqueous liquid contains impurities which comprise particles, and then transferring the non-aqueous liquid from the suspension to a cleaning stage, in which the cleaning stage provides a cleaned non-aqueous liquid suitable for use in a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation process, which cleaning stage comprises removing particles from the non-aqueous liquid in at least one filtration step. The invention also relates to the apparatus suitable for carrying out a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation and polymer beads obtainable by the process or employing the apparatus. The invention further relates to a cleaned non-aqueous liquid obtainable by the process.
Abstract:
Provided is a process of producing polymers of a N-vinyl carboxamide comprising the steps of flowing a reaction mixture comprising an aqueous liquid containing at least one polymerisation initiator, N-vinyl carboxamide monomer or a monomer mixture which comprises N-vinyl carboxamide into a reactor system,polymerising the monomer or monomer mixture to produce the polymer of a N-vinyl carboxamide, in which the reactor system comprises a series of reactor units comprising a combination of at least one mixed flow reactor and at least one single pass tubular reactor,wherein i) the at least one mixed flow reactor comprises at least one vessel containing internal and/or external means of mixing; and ii) the at least one single pass tubular reactor comprises a tubular section disposed between two ends,at least one inlet and at least one outlet in which the reaction mixture flows through the single pass tubular reactor only once, wherein substantially none of the reaction mixture exits the single pass tubular reactor less than 0.5 of the mean residence time of the reaction mixture in a single pass tubular reactor. The polymers resulting therefrom may be hydrolysed to provide polymers containing vinyl amine units. Also provided are the apparatus suitable for producing said polymers.
Abstract:
Transportation of Polymeric Bead Products A method of transportation of a polymer product from a first location to a second location in which the transportation comprises at least one of the group consisting of: (a) conveyance in a vehicle for at least 50 km; and/or (b) conveyance in at least one conduit in which the polymer product comprises water soluble or water swellable polymer beads, wherein the water soluble or water swellable polymer beads are obtainable by a process comprising a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation comprising forming aqueous monomer beads of an aqueous solution comprising water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerising the monomer or monomer blend, to form polymer beads while suspended in a non-aqueous liquid, and recovering polymer beads, in which the process comprises providing in a vessel (1) a volume (2) of non-aqueous liquid wherein the volume of non-aqueous liquid extends between at least one polymer bead discharge point (3) and at least one monomer feed point (4), feeding the aqueous monomer or monomer blend through orifices (5) into, or onto, the non- aqueous liquid to form aqueous monomer beads, allowing the aqueous monomer beads to flow towards the polymer bead discharge point initiating polymerisation of the aqueous monomer beads to form polymerising beads, wherein the polymerising beads have formed polymer beads when they reach the polymer bead discharge point, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel at the polymer bead discharge point and recovering, water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension, in which the aqueous monomer or monomer blend and/or the orifices is/are vibrated such that the frequency multiplied by the weight average droplet diameter is between 150 and 800 mm/s. The method enables polymer product transported to a second location to have a narrow particle size distribution and reduced fines or dust content.
Abstract:
A method for preparing an aqueous polyacrylamide solution is disclosed. The method comprises: - hydrating acrylonitrile in water in presence of a biocatalyst capable of converting acrylonitrile to acrylamide so as to obtain an acrylamide solution, - directly polymerizing the acrylamide solution so as to obtain a polyacrylamide gel, and - directly dissolving the polyacrylamide gel by addition of water so as to obtain an aqueous polyacrylamide solution.
Abstract:
Preparation of Aqueous Solutions or Dispersions of Polymeric Bead Products A method of forming an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion of a polymer product com- prising providing the polymer product; feeding the polymer product to a polymer hydration make-up unit; combining the polymer product with an aqueous liquid; and hydrating the polymer product to form the aqueous solution or aqueous dispersion of the poly- mer product, in which the polymer product comprises water-soluble or water swellable polymer beads, wherein the water soluble or water swellable polymer beads are obtainable by a process com- prising a reverse-phase suspension polymerisation comprising forming aqueous monomer beads of an aqueous solution comprising water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend and polymerising the monomer or monomer blend, to form polymer beads while sus- pended in a non-aqueous liquid, and recovering polymer beads, in which the process comprises providing in a vessel (1) a volume (2) of non-aqueous liquid wherein the volume of non-aqueous liquid extends between at least one polymer bead discharge point (3) and at least one monomer feed point (4), feeding the aqueous monomer or monomer blend through orifices (5) into, or onto, the non- aqueous liquid to form aqueous monomer beads, allowing the aqueous monomer beads to flow towards the polymer bead discharge point initiating polymerisation of the aqueous monomer beads to form polymerising beads, wherein the polymerising beads have formed polymer beads when they reach the polymer bead discharge point, removing a suspension of the polymer beads in non-aqueous liquid from the vessel at the poly- mer bead discharge point and recovering, water soluble or water swellable polymer beads from the suspension, in which the aqueous monomer or monomer blend and/or the orifices is/are vibrated such that the frequency multiplied by the weight average droplet diameter is between 150 and 800 mm/s. The method enables aqueous solutions or aqueous dispersions of water soluble or water swellable polymer product to be made at a consistent concentration and for the so formed aqueous solutions or dispersions to be consistently dosed into systems to be treated.
Abstract:
A process for preparation of a polymer product comprising the steps of i)feeding an aqueous mixture comprising a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or a mixture of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers into a first reactor device (2) through at least one inlet; ii)partially polymerising the monomer or monomers and transferring the polymerising monomer or mixture of monomers from the inlet to an outlet(3)of the first reactor device(2)to provide a partially polymerised product; iii)flowing the partially polymerised product out of the outlet(3), in which no more than 60% of the monomer or mixture of monomers has been polymerised in the partially polymerised product as it exits the outlet (3) of first reactor device(2), and transferring it to a further reactor device(5), in which the further reactor device (5) has an inlet and an outlet(6); iv)continuing the polymerisation in the further reactor device (5) and removing the polymer product from the outlet (6) of the further reactor device(5), characterised in that the first reactor device (2) comprises a positive displacement pump.
Abstract:
A method for preparing an aqueous polyacrylamide solution is disclosed. The method comprises: - hydrating acrylonitrile in water in presence of a biocatalyst capable of converting acrylonitrile to acrylamide so as to obtain an acrylamide solution, - directly polymerizing the acrylamide solution so as to obtain a polyacrylamide gel, and - directly dissolving the polyacrylamide gel by addition of water so as to obtain an aqueous polyacrylamide solution, wherein the polyacrylamide gel is dissolved by means of water jet cutting.