Method for separating alkali metal ions from alkoxylates

A process for separating alkali metal ions from alkoxylates containing alkali metal ions, comprising:

• a) dilution of the alkali metal-containing alkoxylate with an inert solvent,
• b) treatment of the alkali metal-containing solution of the alkoxylate with a cationic exchanger in order to obtain a substantially alkali metal-free solution of the alkoxylate, and
• c) removal of the solvent from the substantially alkali metal-free solution of the alkoxylate in order to obtain a substantially solvent-free alkoxylate containing less than 5 ppm alkali metal ions,
• which process includes a regeneration of the cation exchanger, the regeneration comprising the following steps:
• d1) removal of the alkoxylate solution from the cation exchanger and washing out the cation exchanger with an inert solvent,
• d2) if required, washing out the cation exchanger with demineralized water,
• d3) regeneration of the cation exchange resin with an acid,
• d4) washing the cation exchange resin neutral with demineralized water,
• d5) washing out the water present in the ion exchange resin with an inert solvent and
• d6) if required, loading of the cation exchanger with the inert solvent desired for the treatment with the cation exchanger,
• wherein in step d1) the alkoxylate solution is removed from the cation exchanger by forcing it out by means of an inert gas.