Patent ID: 8048942

Claim:
A process for the production of a superabsorbent polymer comprising: (a) preparing an aqueous monomer mixture selected to provide after polymerization a superabsorbent polymer, (b) feeding said aqueous monomer mixture to a reactor, (c) subjecting said aqueous monomer mixture in the reactor to free-radical polymerization to obtain a superabsorbent polymer gel, (d) removing the superabsorbent polymer from the reactor, and (e) working-up the superabsorbent polymer removed from the reactor to obtain a final product, whereby a basic aqueous medium comprising carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, or combinations thereof, and an aqueous scrubber solution obtained from at least one off-gas stream removed from any stage of the process being subjected to scrubbing with a basic aqueous solution prior to venting is fed to the superabsorbent polymer gel.