Method for obtaining water-soluble polymers, resulting polymers and uses thereof

Abstract

A method of obtaining homopolymers and/or copolymers in aqueous solution by the use of phosphorous acid and/or its salts or sodium hypophosphite and by neutralisation during the polymerisation of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers by the continuous addition, first of all, of bases such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide and then bases of alkaline earths such as calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. The polymers obtained by the said method and uses thereof.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . A homopolymer and/or copolymer in aqueous solution, obtained by a method comprising polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of phosphorous acid and/or its salts or sodium hypophosphite, wherein during said polymerizing the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers are neutralized by the continuous addition of, first, one or more bases selected from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or lithium hydroxide, and then one or more bases selected from calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium oxide, 
 wherein the degree of neutralization of the active acid sites of the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers is between 40% and 90%, limits included, resulting from the neutralization with one or more ions selected from sodium ion, potassium ion or lithium ion, and wherein the degree of neutralization of the active acid sites is between 10% and 60%, limits included, resulting from the neutralization with one or more ions selected from calcium ion or magnesium ion.    
     
     
         10 . The homopolymer and/or copolymer in aqueous solution according to  claim 9 , wherein said homopolymer and/or copolymer is in the completely neutralized form.  
     
     
         11 . The homopolymer and/or copolymer in aqueous solution according to  claim 9 , wherein said homopolymer and/or copolymer is partially neutralized.  
     
     
         12 . The homopolymer and/or copolymer in aqueous solution according to  claim 9 , wherein said homopolymer and/or copolymer has a molecular weight, M w , between 2000 and 16,000, determined by aqueous GPC.  
     
     
         13 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . Aqueous suspensions of mineral materials containing the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A process for grinding one or more minerals, said process comprising: 
 grinding one or more minerals in an aqueous medium in the presence of the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9 .    
     
     
         22 . A process for dispersing one or more mineral materials, said process comprising: 
 dispersing one or more mineral materials in an aqueous medium with the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9 .    
     
     
         23 . A process for making paper, said process comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with a paper formulation, wherein the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution acts as a water retaining agent.    
     
     
         24 . A method of treating water, said method comprising: 
 sequestering or inhibiting the precipitation and/or incrustation of minerals in an industrial or domestic water by adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with said water.    
     
     
         25 . A method for preventing scale or corrosion in the field of inverse osmosis and ultrafiltration, said method comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with a fluid.    
     
     
         26 . A method for treating a drilling fluid, said method comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with said drilling fluid.    
     
     
         27 . A method for preventing or treating scale, said method comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with a detergent formula to form a mixture, wherein said mixture has a stable chlorometric rate of one or more hypochlorides present in said detergent.    
     
     
         28 . A method for dispersing an agent, said method comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with a detergent formula to form a mixture, and    dispersing an agent with said mixture, wherein said mixture has a stable chlorometric rate of one or more hypochlorides present in said detergent.    
     
     
         29 . A method for stabilizing a zeolite, said method comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with a detergent formula to form a mixture, and    stabilizing a zeolite with said mixture, wherein said mixture has a stable chlorometric rate of one or more hypochlorides present in said detergent.    
     
     
         30 . A process for preparing an aqueous suspension of one or more mineral materials, said process comprising: 
 adding the homopolymer and/or copolymer solution of  claim 9  with a paper, paint, ceramic, drilling fluid or detergent.    
     
     
         31 . The homopolymer and/or copolymer in aqueous solution according to  claim 12 , wherein said homopolymer and/or copolymer has a molecular weight, Mw, between 3500 and 6500.