Process for preparing water-soluble polymer gels
AssigneeSortwell & Co.
InventorEdwin Sortwell
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Abstract
A process for preparing high molecular weight water-soluble polymer gels having relatively narrow molecular weight distributions is disclosed. An aqueous reaction mixture comprising a solution of a water-soluble vinyl monomer and a suitable catalyst system is polymerized in a reactor comprising a channel reactor with sealed removable lid in the substantial absence of oxygen. The sealed removable lid is preferably flexible and sealed with a flexible zipper. The polymer gels are particulated to particles or pellets and coated. The coating allows the gel to flow or be pumped and metered.
Claims20
A process for preparing a water-soluble polymer gel comprising he steps of:
- (a) forming an aqueous solution of one or more vinyl monomers:
- (b) mixing said monomer solution with a catalyst system comprising one or both of a redox system and an organic free-radical generating initiator to form a reaction mixture;
- (c) introducing said reaction mixture to a reactor comprising a channel with removable sealing lid said reaction mixture having a depth of less than about 20 inches;
- and,
- (d) allowing the monomer(s) present in said reaction mixture to polymerize to form a water-soluble polymer gel product, each of said steps (b)-(d) being carried out in the substantial absence of molecular oxygen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.