Shell functionalized ion exchange resins

1. A method for the production improved shell functionalized ion exchange resins comprising:

(a) preparing a second stage type tree radical matrix;

(b) contacting the second stage type free radical matrix with a monomer feed comprising at least one monomer under conditions such that the second stage type free radical matrix catalyzes a polymerization of the at least one monomer to form copolymer beads having a core/shell morphology, and

(c) functionalizing the copolymer bead by halomethylation or sulfonation; wherein the second stage type free radical matrix is prepared by a process comprising

(i) suspending a plurality of seed particles in a suspending medium,

(ii) imbibing into the seed particles a free radical-containing initial monomer charge, and

(iii) polymerizing monomers in the initial monomer charge until the conversion thereof into polymer is 20 to 95 percent,

with the proviso that, when the functionalizing the copolymer bead comprises halomethylation, the initial monomer charge comprises at least 14 weight percent crossinking monomer and the monomer feed (b) comprises less than 10 weight percent crosslinking monomer; and

with the proviso that, when the functionalizing the copolymer bead comprises sulfonation, the initial monomer charge comprises at lease 16 weight percent crosslinking monomer and the monomer feed (b) comprises less than 16 weight percent crosslinking monomer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the ploymerization is a suspension polymerization.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second stage type free radical matrix and the monomers to be polymerized are suspended in an aqueous solution wherein the aqueous solution comprising a suspension stabilizer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises attaching active ion exchange groups to the copolymer beads to form a shell functional ion exchange resin.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising attaching chelate active groups to the copolymer beads to form shell functional chelating resins.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the monomer feed further comprises a monomer that is functional or can be easily converted to functional groups.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the feed monomer comprises divinylbezene and acrylonitrile, or comprises esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the feed monomer consists of divinylbenzene and vinylbenzyl chloride.

9. Core/shell copolymer beads prepared according to the process of claim 1 .