Process for producing a water-absorbent resin

摘要

A water-absorbent resin having excellent physical properties can be produced by a process wherein an aqueous solution containing an alpha , beta -unsaturated carboxylic acid and an alkali metal salt thereof in a total amount of 25% by weight or more is subjected to polymerization with a radical polymerization initiator in a petroleum-based hydrocarbon solvent in the presence or absence of a crosslinking agent, characterized by using, as a surfactant, a polyglycerine-fatty acid ester having an HLB of 2 to 16 and represented by the general formula <IMAGE> (wherein R is an acyl group or hydrogen atom and n is an integer of 0 to 8).