Continuous process for the preparation of a cationically modified acrylamide polymer

Claim 1

A process for the preparation of a dilute aqueous solution of a cationically modified polyacrylamide from a water-in-oil emulsion of a finely divided water soluble acrylamide polymer said process comprising: A. forming a continuous process stream containing: i. 1.0 - 15.0% by weight of a water soluble lower alkyl secondary amine containing 2 - 4 carbon atoms; ii. 0.5 - 4.0% by weight of formaldehyde, said formaldehyde being introduced as an aqueous solution containing from 1 - 40% by weight formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde added being further characterized as being in a substantially equal molar ratio to the amount of secondary amine added in i; iii. 1.4 - 9% by weight of an acrylamide polymer, said acrylamide polymer being contained in a water-in-oil emulsion which comprises: a. An aqueous phase ranging between 30 - 95% by weight of the emulsion, said aqueous phase being defined as the sum of polymer and water present; b. 20 - 50% by weight finely divided acrylamide polymer; c. 5 - 70% by weight of a hydrophobic liquid; d. .1 - 21% by weight of a water-in-oil emulsifying agent; iv. .1 - 2% by weight of a water soluble hydrophilic surfactant capable of inverting the water-in-oil emulsion of iii; and, v. Water; B. subjecting said continuous process stream to turbulent in-line mixing whereby said water-in-oil emulsion of a finely divided acrylamide polymer is inverted, and the reaction of the secondary amine formaldehyde, and acrylamide polymer with each other is affected; and then, C. recovering continuously a 1.0 - 15% aqueous solution of a cationically modified acrylamide polymer.