Process for producing water-absorbing resins

摘要

A water-absorbent resin is produced by crushing a mass of crosslinked hydrogel polymer having high adhesion and elastic properties without kneading it, and drying the crushed crosslinked hydrogel polymer. In the case when the crosslinked hydrogel polymer includes cells therein, the crosslinked hydrogel polymer is crushed so as to restrain reduction in the number of cells contained in the crosslinked hydrogel polymer. The crosslinked hydrogel polymer is crushed by any of crushing methods including: shearing the crosslinked hydrogel polymer with a fixed blade and a rotary blade; cutting the crosslinked hydrogel polymer with a cutter having a pair of rotary blades that are mounted on different shafts and rotate while at least partly overlapping each other; cutting the crosslinked hydrogel polymer with a cutter having a rotary blade using a lubricant; and crushing the crosslinked hydrogel polymer after freezing. With the use of the above methods, it is possible to industrially and easily mass-produce porous water-absorbent resins with excellent absorption properties while restraining reduction in the number of cells contained in the crosslinked hydrogel polymer. <IMAGE>