Johnson, Cathy C. and Manian Ramesh. WATER BASED LIQUID DISPERSION POLYMERS
Nalco Chemical Company, Naperville, IL 60563-1198 (mramesh@nalco.com)
High molecular weight water-soluble polymers derived from acrylamide are used as process aids and water treatment agents in various industrial operations. Historically, these polymers have been produced as water-in-oil emulsions using large amounts of oil and surfactants as a carrier. These carriers play no role in the end-use and wastefully introduced into the environment at an annual rate of about 90 million pounds. To overcome the potential environmental hazards associated with such release, Nalco introduced a unique dispersion polymerization technology utilizing aqueous salt solution as the carrier. Most acrylamide-based polymers available can be produced through Nalco process without using oil and surfactants. Details and benefits of this technology will be presented.