Process for the preparation of di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series, in which a) aniline and formaldehyde are converted in the absence of an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture comprising aminal and water, b) water is removed at least in part from the reaction mixture obtained in step a), giving an organic phase comprising the aminal, c) the organic aminal-comprising phase obtained in step b) is converted in the presence of an acidic catalyst, giving a reaction mixture comprising di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series, d) the reaction mixture comprising di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series obtained in step c) is neutralized and then subjected to a work-up involving washing and distillation, characterized in that for the purposes of the separation of the water from the reaction mixture obtained in step a) b.1) the reaction mixture obtained in step a) is separated in a separating container into an aqueous and an organic phase, wherein organic constituents are dispersed in the aqueous phase, and then b.2) the aqueous phase obtained in step b.1) (i) is passed at a temperature in the range from 50°C to 120°C and at a pressure such that boiling of the disperse system does not occur, without use of inert gases through a filter bed of coalescence fiber material and (ii) is then separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, and then b.3) the organic phase obtained in step b.2) is combined with the organic phase obtained in step b.1) to give the organic phase. a) aniline and formaldehyde are converted in the absence of an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture comprising aminal and water, b) water is removed at least in part from the reaction mixture obtained in step a), giving an organic phase comprising the aminal, c) the organic aminal-comprising phase obtained in step b) is converted in the presence of an acidic catalyst, giving a reaction mixture comprising di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series, d) the reaction mixture comprising di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series obtained in step c) is neutralized and then subjected to a work-up involving washing and distillation, b.1) the reaction mixture obtained in step a) is separated in a separating container into an aqueous and an organic phase, wherein organic constituents are dispersed in the aqueous phase, and then b.2) the aqueous phase obtained in step b.1) (i) is passed at a temperature in the range from 50°C to 120°C and at a pressure such that boiling of the disperse system does not occur, without use of inert gases through a filter bed of coalescence fiber material and (ii) is then separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, and then b.3) the organic phase obtained in step b.2) is combined with the organic phase obtained in step b.1) to give the organic phase. (i) is passed at a temperature in the range from 50°C to 120°C and at a pressure such that boiling of the disperse system does not occur, without use of inert gases through a filter bed of coalescence fiber material and (ii) is then separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, and then b.3) the organic phase obtained in step b.2) is combined with the organic phase obtained in step b.1) to give the organic phase.