Continuous production of DMAEA quaternary salts

摘要

The invention provides a method of continuously producing high quality quaternized N,N-dialkylaminoethyl (meth)acrylates (DMAEA.MCQ) that has a long shelf life and which is stable in water. The method involves placing starting materials into a continuously stirred tank reactor in the presence of less than 6% water. This low amount of water causes two liquid phases to form and prevents unwanted side reactions. The denser liquid phase contains DMAEA.MCQ and the lighter phase contains the starting materials. Liquid from the denser phase is removed from a position where little of the lighter phase has been mixed in. The removed liquid then has any last traces of the starting materials reacted into DMAEA.MCQ and strips away any starting materials with a gas flow. The resulting liquid is high purity DMAEA.MCQ. Water can then safely be added to ease in the transport and use of the produced DMAEA.MCQ.