Abstract: This invention relates to the encapsulation of active ingredient within polymeric material so as to protect the active ingredient from the ambient environment, for instance atmospheric moisture when the product is exposed to the air, or the liquid phase of a liquid detergent when the product is incorporated in such a detergent. A dispersion in oil of an aqueous solution of a matrix polymeric material containing enzyme or other active ingredient is subjected to distillation to provide a substantially anhydrous dispersion in oil of particles of matrix polymer containing active ingredient, and during or after the distillation the polymer solution is converted into a solid polymer. In the invention, we use a matrix polymer that is so hydrophobic that it partitions preferentially into the oil rather than into the aqueous solution of encapsulating polymer.

Abstract: A particulate composition comprises particles having a substantially anhydrous core comprising an active ingredient. Generally the core comprises a matrix polymer with the active ingredient distributed throughout this. Generally there is an outer protection shell of polymer, generally formed by coacervation. The invention is a value for the production of powders, dispersions in non-aqueous liquids (for instance when the active ingredient is a detergent enzyme) and dispersions in water (for instance when the active ingredient is an agrochemical.

Abstract: Water soluble polymerizable acrylic prepolymers can be formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers that include monomers that provide a pendant group that is a blocked, saturated, ethylenic group, followed by unblocking the pendant saturated ethylenic group to leave a pendant ethylenically unsaturated group. These prepolymers can be copolymerized through these unsaturated groups, for instance after impregnation into a permeable substrate as in chemical grouting or shut off processes, to form cross linked solid polymers. The polymerizable monomers that are ethylenically unsaturated but which also include the blocked ethylenic group are also novel.

Abstract: A process for producing novel water-soluble compounds of the formula (HO).sub.m --A--(OCH.sub.2 NR.sup.1 COR).sub.p comprises forming a dispersion of an aqueous solution of a substrate A(OH).sub.n which is an alcohol or, preferably, a carbohydrate and a derivatising reagent HOCH.sub.2 NR.sup.1 COR.sup.2 in a water immiscible liquid and azeotroping the dispersion to remove water and thereby to drive the condensation reaction. The process can achieve high degrees of substitution and is of particular use in the production of water-soluble unsaturated polymersable products, preferably methylol acrylamide derivatives, in a process in which the aqueous dispersed phase contains a water-soluble polymerisation inhibitor. The unsaturated products may be used as cross-linking monomers in many aqueous polymerisation reactions, for instance an aqueous composition containing them with a water-soluble photo-initiator system including a dye are used as curing inks.

Abstract: A particulate substantially homogeneous polymeric product is made by dispersing ungelatinised polysaccharide in aqueous monomer containing polymerization initiator, initiating polymerization and thereby inducing exothermic polymerization, utilizing the exotherm to provide part at least of the heat necessary to gelatinise the polysaccharide and thereby producing a comminutable gel comprising polymerized monomer and gelatinised polysaccharide, comminuting the gel and drying the comminuted gel. The product generally comprises a blend of water soluble synthetic polymer, gelatinised polysaccharide having a low degree of graft polymerization and optionally gelatinised polysaccharide. Products comprising these components are particularly suitable for use as wallpaper adhesives.