Published October 1993
This report covers three types of water-soluble polymers:
- Water-soluble cellulose ethers
- Acrylic acid-maleic anhydride copolymers (or acrylic acid-maleic anhydride [acid] copolymers) and their copolymers partially or fully neutralized in the form of the alkali metal or ammonium salts
- Carrageenan
These water-soluble polymers, which are produced in relatively small volumes, are relatively high-value specialty chemical products. They are used in a variety of applications such as foods, paper, detergents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toothpastes and toiletries.
This report reviews the industry status and technological development of water-soluble cellulose ethers and updates the process economics for the production of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. It also reviews the properties and applications of acrylic acid-maleic anhydride (acid) copolymers and carrageenan and their production technologies. In addition, the report estimates the pro-cess economics for the production of an acrylic acid-maleic acid (sodium salts) copolymer and a refined carrageenan product.
