Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing a pyrrolidone derivative represent by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is an organic residue obtained by removing hydroxy radical from a C.sub.1-10 primary alcohol, C.sub.1-10 secondary alcohol or derivative thereof, comprising (1) reacting 2-pyrrolidone with acetaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst, thereby obtaining N-(.alpha.-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidone, and (2) reacting the thus obtained N-(.alpha.-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidone with a primary alcohol, a secondary alcohol or a derivative thereof in the presence of an acidic catalyst to obtain the pyrrolidone derivative.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a water-soluble polymer, which comprises granulating a hydrous gel-like polymer obtained by polymerizing N-vinylformamide in the form of an aqueous solution of which a monomer concentration is 20 to 60% by weight, dispersing the formed polymer particles in methanol and contacting them with an aqueous solution of ammonium salt of a monovalent acid in an amount of 1 to 200% by mole based on the formamide groups in said polymer, thereby partially modifying the formamide groups in the polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a coagulant for minute mineral particles in suspension, comprising a copolymer of 0.5 to 10 mol % of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or a salt thereof, 40 to 99.5 mol % of N-hydroxymethylacrylamide and 0 to 59.5 mol % of acrylamide and showing a reduced viscosity of 10 to 30 dl/g in an aqueous 1N solution of sodium chloride at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and a concentration of the copolymer of 0.1 g/dl therein, and a method for coagulating the minute mineral particles in a suspension, comprising adding the coagulant a neutral waste water.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing N-substituted formamide represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a residual radical of a primary or secondary alcohol, comprising the steps of reacting formamide with acetaldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst and if required, further reacting the thus formed product, N-(.alpha.-hydroxyethyl)formamide, with a primary or secondary alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst.