What is described is a high molecular weight homogeneous, branched copolymer of maleic anhydride and a C1-C5 alkyl vinyl ether monomer, in which a branching agent is present in an amount of less than 0. The apparatus includes a waste water supply, a gas supply, a plasma-based processing unit connected to both of the waste water supply and the gas supply, a reservoir connected to the plasma-based processing unit and a washing tower connected to both of the reservoir and the plasma-based processing unit. Separate synchronous and asynchronous result registers hold the data returned in the most recent replies received for synchronous and asynchronous transaction requests, respectively.