| abstract |
Water-miscible monomers such as acrylamide are polymerized continuously to produce a concentrated solution of a high molecular weight polymer by passing a mixture of a water-immiscible organic liquid and an aqueous solution of at least 20 weight percent of the monomer through a tubular reactor, e.g., a polyethylene tube, having internal surfaces that are readily wetted by the hydrocarbon liquid and polymerizing the monomer in the reactor. The polymerized product is recovered as a water-in-oil emulsion wherein the polymer resides in the dispersed aqueous phase or as a solid strand which is a high solids aqueous solution containing at least 20 weight percent of the water-soluble polymer of the water-miscible monomer. |