PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ETHYLENE/VINYL ALCOHOL COPOLYMER

摘要

Process for producing an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer by which impurities such as the residue of a saponification catalyst and by-products to be produced in saponification, and solvent are removed to a high degree, and a high-quality, homogeneous product can be efficiently produced including a washing step comprising: introducing a paste containing an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer and an alcohol into a horizontal washing tank; applying a shear force to the paste to knead the paste while contacting the paste with washing water in the horizontal washing tank so that a surface of the paste is repeatedly displaced by an inner part thereof; and discharging at least some of the alcohol to an outside of the tank together with the washing water to obtain a water-containing ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer composition having a small alcohol content. Thus, some or all of the alcohol, impurities, and the like are removed with high efficiency.