Patent ID: 8410222

Claim:
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by polymerizing a monomer solution or suspension comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer bearing an acid group, b) at least one crosslinker, c) at least one initiator, d) optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the monomer specified under a), and e) optionally one or more water-soluble polymer, comprising the steps of i) polymerizing the monomer solution or suspension to give a polymer gel, ii) drying the polymer gel, iii) comminuting the dried polymer gel, and iv) classifying to remove undersize particles, the removed undersize particles being recycled at least partially before step ii), wherein at least a portion of the recycled undersize particles is coated with at least one of a reducing agent and inorganic particles, wherein the inorganic particles comprise fumed silica or insoluble salts of phosphoric acid.