Patent ID: 7776984

Claim:
A process for producing an agglomerated superabsorbent polymer particle comprising more than about 75 wt. % superabsorbent polymer fine particles, said process steps consist of: (A) bringing (i) superabsorbent polymer fine particles having at least about 40 wt. %, based on the total weight of the superabsorbent polymer fine particles, a particle size of less than about 150 μm into contact with (ii) a fluid comprising to more than about 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fluid, a cross-linkable, uncross-linked polymer, which polymer is based on polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated, acid groups-bearing monomers or salts thereof to at least about 20 wt. %, based on the total weight of the cross-linkable, uncrosslinked polymer; and (B) cross-linking the uncross-linked polymer by heating the superabsorbent polymer fine particles brought into contact with the fluid to a temperature within a range from about 20 to about 300° C., so that the cross-linkable, uncross-linked polymer at least partially crosslinks, wherein (a) the cross-linkable, uncross-linked polymer comprises, besides the polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated, acid groups-bearing monomers, further polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated monomers (M) capable of reacting with polymerized acid group-bearing monomers in a condensation reaction, in an addition reaction, or in a ring opening reaction, and/or (b) the fluid comprises, beside the cross-linkable, uncrosslinked polymer, a crosslinker, and (c) wherein the agglomerated superabsorbent polymer particle has less than about 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the agglomerated superabsorbent polymer particle, a particle size of less than about 150 μm.