Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation

Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Limited

Simon Broughton

Gareth Ian Naylor

Jonathan Heath Veal

Anthony Moran

Martin David Powell

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of polymer which comprises the steps of i) feeding an aqueous mixture comprising a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or a mixture of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and an initiator into the top of a reactor ii) polymerizing the monoethylenically unsaturated monomer to form a gel-like aqueous mixture comprising the polymer, iii) squeezing the gel-like aqueous mixture comprising the polymer out of the bottom of the reactor using inert gas, wherein the reactor is either a vertical fully conical reactor having an angle (alpha) between top diameter (d) of the reactor and inner wall of the reactor of smaller than 90&#xb0; but larger than 45&#xb0; or is made up of 2 to 5 connected vertical fully conical parts, which are on top of one another, each having an angle between top diameter of the part and inner wall of the part of smaller than 90&#xb0; but larger than 45&#xb0;.

Production of polymers in a conical reactor

Apparatus and method for degassing liquids particularly cationic monomers. Fluid comprising liquid to be degassed together with sweep gas is admitted tangentially into a column () and forced down the column by a tubular baffle () which defines, with the inner wall of the column, an annulus () that is closed at its top (). After passing to the bottom of the annulus the fluid forms an even film over the inner surface of the column and gas disengaging from the liquid can rise up the column while liquid accumulates at the bottom of the column. To assist the disengagement of the gas from the liquid the column is preferably of increasing cross section towards the bottom so that the thickness of the film is also reduced.

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Rochdale, United Kingdom

Simon Broughton