Patent ID: 7601786

Claim:
A process of preparing a liquid reaction product in a column reactor, which reactor comprises a space between coaxial tubular interior surfaces comprising an inner interior surface and an outer interior surface, comprising the steps, a) feeding a liquid reaction precursor material through an inlet port in the outer interior surface, b) flowing the liquid precursor material through the space between the outer interior surface and the inner interior surface, wherein the outer interior surface is transparent which outer interior surface transmits ultra violet light, c) subjecting the liquid precursor material in step (b) to reaction conditions to form the liquid reaction product, comprising subjecting the liquid precursor material to ultra violet radiation, d) passing the liquid reaction product through an outlet port in the outer interior surface, wherein the distance between the inner internal surface and the outer interior surface is less than 20 mm and the ratio of the cross-sectional diameter (D′) of the inner interior surface to the cross-sectional diameter (D″) of the outer interior surface is at least 0.8:in which the liquid precursor material is a liquid polymerisable material in which the liquid precursor material is a liquid monomeric composition selected from a group consisting of, i.) an aqueous emulsion or suspension comprising a hydrophobic monomer or monomer blend, ii.) a reverse-phase emulsion or suspension comprising a hydrophilic aqueous monomer or monomer blend and a continuous water immiscible phase, the reaction conditions are polymerisation conditions, the liquid polymer composition has a viscosity of below 5,000 mPa·s measured using a Brookfield RVT, spindle 4, at 50 rpm and 25° C. and the liquid reaction product is a liquid polymer composition.