The Dow Chemical Company

Brian G Witt

Brian W Walther

Gary R Marchand

Gary L Woodson

Charles A Wilson

George A Burk

Kurt W Swogger

A reactor for the solution polymerization of volatile monomers equipped with an agitator to cause splashing and droplet formation to reduce volatile monomer accumulation in the vapor space.

Reactor with surface agitator for solution polymerization process

A process for the solution polymerization of volatile monomers in a reactor equipped with an agitator to cause splashing and droplet formation to reduce volatile monomer accumulation in the vapor space.

An alkyl .alpha.-cyanoacetate is reacted with ammonia in a glycol solvent medium to form cyanoacetamide. Advantageously and without requirement of separation of the formed cyanoacetamide in glycol solvent (even though the next step and entire procedure can optionally commence with pre-formed cyanoacetamide), 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide is formed in situ by treating the cyanoacetamide in glycol with an appropriate mixture of bromine and an alkali metal bromate at about 10.degree. C-40.degree. C. Excellent and stable antimicrobial compositions may then be prepared, as part of an overall integrated process by incorporating in the resultant 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide-containing reaction mass an appropriate quantity of paraformaldehyde or equivalent satisfactory stabilizer at a suitably adjusted pH level.

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Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Brian G Witt