| abstract |
This invention provides a process for preparing novel hydrophobically associating terpolymers containing cationic functionality which are useful for clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. These water soluble polymers contain both water soluble and water insoluble monomers. The water soluble monomers are acrylamide (AM) and a salt of an unsaturated amine base (C) and the water insoluble monomer is a higher alkyl(meth)acrylamide or alkyl(meth)acrylate (R). These polymers are referred to as CRAM. The process for their preparation relies on solubilizing the water insoluble monomer into an aqueous micellar solution containing one or more surfactants and the water soluble monomers. The surfactants are specifically selected to enable homogeneous dispersion of the hydrophobic monomer(s) in the presence of cationic monomers, such as 3-methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC), 2-methylacrylatoethyltrimethylammonium chloride (METAC), or diallyl dimethylammonium chloride (DMDAAC). Redox or free radical initiators are used to copolymerize both the water soluble and water insoluble monomers forming terpolymers of ethylenically unsaturated amine base salts, alkyl(meth)acrylamides or alkyl(meth)acrylates and acrylamide. These polymers provide exceptional clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. Also, they are very effective for resolving oil-in-water emulsions, such as those found in oil production. |