A method for the production of an oil - and water-absorbing polymer which is capable of particulate solids is from enclose and liquids, and products produced by the method

摘要

The present invention is directed to a porous polymer micro- particle, in the form of broken spheres, open to a porous oleophilic interior surface area, having a high oil and water absorbency and an apparent bulk density of about 0.02 to about 0.1 grams/cc. The preferred method of the present invention comprises the steps of:PP dissolving at least one and preferably at least two polyunsaturated monomers along with an effective amount of an organic polymerization initiator in a water- immiscible organic solvent to provide a monomer mixture;PP adding the monomer mixture to an aqueous solution, preferably having an effective amount of a suspension stabilizer dissolved therein, to form an organic/aqueous biphasic liquid system;PPvigorously agitating the biphasic liquid system at a rate sufficient to cause the water- immiscible organic phase to be suspended as micro-droplets in the aqueous phase;PP continuing vigorous agitating during polymerization of the monomers in the suspended micro-droplets to produce a microporous polymer micro- particle; andPPseparating the microporous polymer micro- particle from the organic solvent to produce a microporous and oil sorbent polymer micro-particle having a mean unit diameter of less than about 25 microns and a total sorptive capacity for mineral oil that is at least about 72% by weight, preferably at least about 80% by weight dry polymer basis.