Polymer flocculants with improved dewatering characteristics

A high mol. wt. water sol. acrylamide based polymer having improved flocculating properties is provided. The polymer is prepd. by a process, in which a small quantity of a chain branching agent such as methylenebisacrylamide is added to the polymn. reaction mixt. continuously or semi-continuously while the monomers are polymd. The polymer is useful in solid/liq. sepns. such as flocculants and coagulants in waste water treatment applications, and as thickening agents.