Patent ID: 7550621

Claim:
A process for sulfating oligomers and polymers comprising the steps of: a) sulfating an oligomer or polymer selected from polyamines having the formula (III): wherein: each R unit is selected from moieties of the formula —(R 3 O) w R 4 — wherein: R 3 and R 4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 8 linear alkylene, C 3 -C 8 branched alkylene, phenylene, substituted phenylene, or mixtures thereof; the index w is from 0 to 10; each R 1 unit is selected from moieties of the formula; —(R 2 O) t Y wherein: R 2 is ethylene, 1,2-propylene, or mixtures thereof; Y is hydrogen, and the value of the index t is from 1 to 100; the values of the indices w′, x′, and y′ are selected such that the polyamine has a backbone weight average molecular weight prior to modification of from 600 daltons to about 3000 daltons, and any mixture thereof; by the addition of sulfuric acid to make a sulfated oligomer and water mixture; b) optionally driving off the water from the sulfated oligomer or polymer and water mixture to make a dried sulfated oligomer or polymer mixture; c) neutralizing the sulfated oligomer or polymer mixture of step (a) or optionally the dried sulfated oligomer or polymer mixture of step (b) by mixing with neutralization agent.