Solution process for preparation hydrophobically functionalized cationic

Abstract

This invention provides a process for preparing novel hydrophobically associating polymers containing cationic functionality which are useful for clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. These water soluble polymers contain both water soluble and water insoluble monomers. The water soluble monomers are acrylamide (AM) and a salt of an unsaturated amine base (C), and the water insoluble monomer is a higher alkyl(meth)acrylamide or alkyl(meth)acrylate (R). These polymers are referred to as CRAM. The process relies on the dissolution of the water insoluble monomer(s) into an aqueous solution of water soluble monomers by means of a water miscible mutual cosolvent. The type and concentration of miscible solvents are chosen to produce a clear, uniform, homogeneous aqueous solution of the hydrophobic monomers in the presence of both nonionic and cationic water soluble monomers and, in addition, the reaction medium remains a clear, uniform, homogeneous mixture with no phase separation as the reaction proceeds to completion. Redox or free radical initiators are used to copolymerize both the water soluble and water insoluble monomers, forming terpolymers of ethylenically unsaturated amine base salts, alkyl(meth)acrylamides of alkyl(meth)acrylates and acrylamide. These polymers provide exceptional clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. Also they are very effective for resolving oil-in-water emulsion, as such as those found in oil production.