Abstract: A process for producing polyacrylamide in a dry and solid form which includes the steps of mixing from 20 to 40% by weight of water and from 60 to 80% by weight of acrylamide to form an aqueous mixture thereof; heating said aqueous mixture to a temperature of between about 50.degree. C and 100.degree. C to form one phase aqueous liquid composition; depositing, on a surface, said one phase aqueous liquid composition and a catalytically effective amount of an aqueous solution of a water soluble polymerization catalyst for the acrylamide, said depositing being done in such a manner so as to form a mixture of said one phase aqueous liquid and said catalytic aqueous solution, said surface being heated to a temperature of between about 50.degree.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for containing water having a high concentration of water-soluble industrial waste which, when in contact with bentonite, disintegrates the bentonite thereby allowing seepage of water through soil containing said water which comprises intimately admixing with said soil a soil sealant composition consisting essentially of bentonite, a water-soluble dispersing agent, and a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, water-soluble salts of polyacrylic acid, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of the foregoing, and a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, the amount of water-soluble polymer being from 0.1% to 3.0%, by weight, and the amount of water-soluble dispersent being from 0.1% to 3.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition which is useful, when added to soil, in containing water, said composition containing bentonite and a particular type of water-soluble polymer, the purpose of the water-soluble polymer being to decrease the amount of bentonite necessary to form a water containing enclosure made of soil. The amount of bentonite necessary in the present invention is at least 50% and, most often, 60% less than is necessary when no water-soluble polymer is present. The water-soluble polymer is preferably polyacrylic acid, water-soluble salts of polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, water-soluble salts thereof, and acylic copolymers formed from either acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The invention also includes a method for containing water which includes admixing an effective amount of bentonite and water-soluble polymer with soil and forming a water-containing enclosure from said mixture.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for containing water having a high concentration of water-soluble industrial waste which, when in contact with bentonite, disintegrates the bentonite thereby allowing seepage of water through soil containing said water which comprises intimately admixing with said soil a soil sealant composition consisting essentially of bentonite, a water-soluble dispersing agent, and a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, water-soluble salts of polyacrylic acid, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of the foregoing, and a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, the amount of water-soluble polymer being from 0.1% to 3.0%, by weight, and the amount of water-soluble dispersent being from 0.1% to 3.