Mixed salt suspension polymerization process and resins and catalysts produced thereof

A process for preparing a resin by suspension polymerization comprising:

• i) forming an aqueous suspension, wherein the aqueous suspension comprises an aqueous phase and an organic phase, wherein the organic phase comprises:
• a) a monomer phase;
• b) from 0.1 to 5 weight percent of a polymerization initiator;
• and
• wherein the monomer phase comprises at least 50 weight percent of vinyl pyridine and from 0.1 to 50 weight percent of divinylbenzene;
• ii) establishing polymerization conditions in the suspension,
• iii) allowing the monomers to polymerize until they have formed water-insoluble particles, and
• iv) separating the particles from the aqueous phase;
• further wherein the aqueous phase comprises water and also comprises a mixture comprising from about 1 to about 2.5 weight percent sodium nitrite and about 5 weight percent sodium bicarbonate, based on the water in the aqueous phase.