METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUBSTANTIALLY DRY WATER-INSOLUBLE POLYMERS FOR IMPROVED FLOCCULATION IN THE BAYER PROCESS

摘要

The present invention is a method of producing substantially dry water insoluble polymers from poly alkyl esters of vinylic monomers for use in a method for the clarification of red mud-containing liquors generated in the Bayer process for the recovery of alumina from bauxite ore. The polymers can be either homopolymers, copolymers or terpolymers. Preferably, the dried emulsion polymers are high molecular weight polymers of poly(methyl acrylate), poly(methyl acrylate/acrylic acid), poly(vinyl acetate/acrylic acid/methyl acrylate), poly(t-butyl methacrylate/acrylic acid/methyl acrylate) and poly(t-butyl acrylate/acrylic acid/methyl acrylate).