Abstract: A water soluble polymer containing acid groups can be fractionated into higher and lower molecular weight fractions by partial neutralization of the polymer as a solution in a blend of water and a low molecular weight alcohol and separating the resultant aqueous and organic phases.

Abstract: A nitrile, such as acrylonitrile, is hydrated to the corresponding amide in the presence of a Raney copper catalyst that, before use in the reaction, is partially oxidized by contact with a controlled oxidizing system comprising oxygen, peroxide, iodate, chlorate, bromate or nitrate.

Abstract: A vinyl ester of the formula R.sup.3 COOR.sup.4 where R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH-- or CH.sub.2 .dbd.C.CH.sub.3 -- and R.sup.4 contains at least four carbon atoms and is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl and aminoalkyl is conducted by reaction of an ester R.sup.3 COOR.sup.1, where R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-3 alkyl, with metal alcoholate formed from an alcohol R.sup.4 OH and titanium, aluminum, zirconium, calcium or magnesium in the absence of water or reactive alcohol.

Abstract: A dispersion of polymeric particles in a non-aqueous liquid is mixed with water with sufficient agitation to initiate substantial dissolution of the particles into water and is substantially homogeneously dispersed into the water substantially immediately, for instance in less than 50 milliseconds from the initiation of substantial dissolution. Preferred apparatus is an orifice mixer having a mixing chamber 41 leading to an orifice 51 and supplied by an inlet 46 for dispersion, the inlet terminating in a valve 47 and an orifice 44, and an inlet 45 for water. The effective outlet area of the orifice 51 is adjusted by an eccentrically mounted aperture plate 52 and there is a shear helix 57.

Abstract: A dispersion of water soluble or water swellable polymer in water immiscible liquid is made by reverse phase polymerization utilizing a dispersing system comprising a polymerization stabilizer and the resulting dispersion, optionally after dehydration, may be distributed into water utilizing a distributing system. The dispersing system or the distributing system, or both, includes at least one non-ionic compound selected from C.sub.6-12 alkanols, C.sub.4-12 alkylene glycol monoethers and their C.sub.1-4 alkanoates, C.sub.6-12 polyalkylene glycol monoethers and their C.sub.1-4 alkanoates and benzyl alcohol. Novel dispersions are made by reverse phase polymerization and, in particular, include a non-ionic compound selected from C.sub.4-12 alkylene glycol monoethers, their C.sub.1-4 alkanoates and C.sub.6-12 polyalkylene glycol monoethers and their C.sub.1-4 alkanoates. When the polymer is water soluble a solution of it in water can be made by distributing the dispersion into water.

Abstract: Concentrated (e.g. above 72% by weight) dispersions of calcium carbonate ground to a particle size such that at least 87% by weight of the particles are less than 2 .mu.m in size have a tendency to gel on standing. In the invention this tendency is minimized or eliminated by using, as dispersing agent, a copolymer of from 5 to 75% by weight AMPS and 95 to 25% by weight acrylic acid, or a water soluble salt thereof, having a molecular weight in the range 1000 to 20,000.

Abstract: Pigment dispersions contain, as dispersing agent novel water soluble polymers containing acid groups, preferably polyacrylic acid or copolymers of polyacrylic acid with AMPS, having polydispersity below 1.5 and molecular weight in the range about 1,000 to about 5,000.

Abstract: A reverse phase suspension polymerization process conducted using an ionic polymerizable material and a polymerization stabilizer of opposite ionic or potentially ionic charge is modified by including also a water soluble, substantially oil insoluble, ionic non-polymerizable compound having the same charge type as the polymerizable material and having at least one alkyl group containing at least 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A water soluble polymer containing acid groups can be fractionated into higher and lower molecular weight fractions by partial neutralization of the polymer as a solution in a blend of water and a low molecular weight alcohol and separating the resultant aqueous and organic phases.

Abstract: An organic suspension, such as sewage sludge, is conditioned by adding a conditioner and then filtering the suspension through a filter element to form a filter cake on the element. Improved dryness properties of the cake are obtained by using as conditioner during the formation of at least the first half (by weight solids), but not all, of the cake a high molecular weight polyelectrolyte conditioner and by using as conditioner during the formation of the remainder of the cake an inorganic conditioner or a low molecular weight polyelectrolyte conditioner.

Abstract: The adhesive coating of a water wettable prepasted wallcovering is formed of a blend of water insoluble but water swellable anionic polymer particles and water insoluble but water swellable cationic polymer particles. The coating may be applied from a dispersion of the particles in volatile organic liquid.

Abstract: Thermal energy storage compositions comprise a thermal energy storage material, for instance an inorganic hydrate that can undergo a change of hydration with accompanying release or storage of latent heat of hydration at a temperature of 10.degree. to 100.degree. C., held in a matrix of polymeric material, generally acrylic polymer. In one aspect of the invention the composition is in particulate form and so can, for instance, be poured into the heat exchanger in which it is to be used. In another aspect of the invention the storage material includes polyvalent metal ions and the polymeric material is a cationic polymer. In another aspect of the invention the composition is made by forming a solution, generally in water, of all the polymerizable material and most or all of the storage material and then polymerizing the polymerizable material in this solution. The solution is generally a low viscosity fluid and polymerization may be conducted in the heat exchanger vessel in which the composition is to be used.

Abstract: Quaternized ammonium synthetic polymers having a solution viscosity, as measured on a 1% solution in deionized water at 25.degree. C. using a suspended level viscometer of from 1 to 500 cs are used as dispersing agents in aqueous slurries of water and solid particulate carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A liquid polymeric composition comprises a suspension in an organic liquid of particulate water insoluble but water swellable polymer, the particles being less than 10 microns in size. To reduce viscosity in water the swellable polymer may be a copolymer and/or a water soluble polymer may be included. A composition of polymer particles that are swellable and contain both soluble and insoluble polymer can be made by inverse emulsion polymerization. An aqueous adhesive, that may be made by mixing this composition with water, comprises water swollen particulate polymer that may be a copolymer and that may be used with a dissolved polymer in order to reduce the viscosity. Pregummed substrates, such as wallpaper, that can be rendered adhesive by contacting with water are obtained by applying the aqueous or non-aqueous composition to the substrate and drying it on the substrate. Wallcovering can be stuck to a surface using the aqueous adhesive.

Abstract: The drainage and retention properties of an aqueous cellulosic suspension substantially free of filler and which is being used for the production of paper or paper board are improved by including a water soluble high molecular weight substantially non-ionic polymer and a bentonite-type clay.

Abstract: An incompletely miscible liquid mixture, e.g. a suspension polymerization mixture, is mixed by flowing through a rotating substantially horizontal tube that is incompletely filled with the mixture, so as to form pairs of vortices each with its axis transverse to the axis of the tube. The apparatus comprises the tube, that must be free of internal means for agitating the liquid within the tube, means for rotating the tube and means for feeding the liquid mixture to and through the tube.

Abstract: A compound of the formulaCH.sub.2 .dbd.CRCONHXNHCOCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 Mwhere R is hydrogen or methyl, X is CH.sub.2 or --CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 -- and M is H or a water soluble cation is made by reacting N-methylolacrylamide or N-methylolmethacrylamide with sulphonated N-methylolacrylamide.

Abstract: A gloss emulsion paint having improved gloss and flow properties is achieved by incorporating in the latex at least two gloss improving film forming copolymers of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid with an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid ester, one of the copolymers having an average molecular weight of from 10,000 to 20,000 and containing 5 to 20 mole percent of the acid units and the other having an average molecular weight of 50,000 to 150,000 and containing from 5 to 40 mole percent of the acid units.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of concentrating a metaliferous ore containing also substantial quantities of pyrites and/or pyrrhotite and/or sphalerite and comprises subjecting an aqueous pulp of the ore to a froth flotation process in the presence of a depressant and in which (1) pyrites and/or pyrrhotite, and/or (2) sphalerite, is depressed by using as the depressant an amine in which at least 20% of the total number of amine groups are tertiary amine groups and in which the number of quaternary amine groups present is zero or is less than one-third the number of tertiary amine groups.

Abstract: Water soluble polymers suitable for use in water flooding during the secondary recovery of oil are described. They are made by a process comprising reacting high molecular weight polyacrylamide with formaldehyde. Processes of water flooding using the polymers are also described.