Abstract: A maleic acid-based copolymer is provided which has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000, a calcium ion-capturability of 300 mgCaCO.sub.3 /g or higher calculated as calcium carbonate, and a clay-dispersibility of 1.2 or higher. Another maleic acid-based copolymer is also provided which has a level of adsorption to clay within the range of 20 to 90% and a calcium ion-stabilization degree constant of 4.0 or larger.

Abstract: A maleic acid-based copolymer is provided which has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000, a calcium ion-capturability of 300 mgCaCO.sub.3 /g or higher calculated as calcium carbonate, and a clay-dispersibility of 1.2 or higher. Another maleic acid-based copolymer is also provided which has a level of adsorption to clay within the range of 20 to 90% and a calcium ion-stabilization degree constant of 4.0 or larger.

Abstract: A method of drying a viscous solution containing a (meth)acrylic acid-based polymer or copolymer containing (meth)acrylic acid and/or a salt thereof as a monomer unit, the degree of neutralization of the acid group contained in the polymer being not more than 50 mol %, wherein the method comprises subjecting the solution to, or passing the solution through, a drying zone, in the form of a line, so that the solvent in the solution is removed.

Abstract: The invention provides biodegradable crosslinked polymers, which have a chelating effect and a dispersing effect to disperse an oily substance and an inorganic substance hardly soluble in water and are excellent in dispersion into water. The crosslinked polymers comprise; an ingredient of molecular weight 5,000 or less in 50% by weight, a bond having at least one of a group (II) represented by the chemical formula --CO--O-- and a group (III) represented by the chemical formula --CO--NH-- as a composition unit between main chains having a water-soluble oligomer structure having the functional group (I) represented by the general formula --COOM (here, M denotes anyone of a hydrogen atom, monovalent metal, divalent metal, trivalent metal, an ammonium group and organic amine group.), and showing a viscosity of 1,000 cP or less at 20.degree. C. by a 20% by weight aqueous solution of the crosslinked polymer.