A process for the purification of polyarylene ethers (I), comprises: (a) making a melt of (I); (b) adding up to 1.5 wt.% water; and (c) removing the water together with the impurities. Preferably, the amount of water added in stage (b) is up to 1 wt%. Stage (b) is carried out under pressure and stage (c) is carried out under normal or reduced pressure. The process is preferably carried out in an extruder, with a polyarylene ether ketone as the starting material.
