PRODUCTION OF CHLOROMETHYLATED POLYMER

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled polymer in an industrially advantageous manner, by using hydrochloric acid, which is a by-product from a production process for chloromethyl ether, in the recovery of chloromethyl ether remaining after a step of chloromethylating a styrene polymer. CONSTITUTION:Methanol is reacted with formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride, and the reaction product mixture is separated into an oil layer containing chloromethyl ether and a water layer containing hydrochloric acid. The oil layer containing chloromethyl ether is reacted with styrene polymer particles (e.g., styrene/divinylbenzene copolymer particles), and the water layer containing hydrochloric acid is added to this reaction product mixture, and the resulting mixture is distilled to recover unreacted chloromethyl ether. An aqueous dispersion of chloromethylated polymer, which is the distillation residue, is filtered to recover the polymer, and this polymer is washed with water and dried to obtain the purpose chloromethylated polymer.