Continuous process for producing halogenated isoolefin copolymer

A continuous process for producing a halogenated isoolefin copolymer, the process comprising:

• (a) polymerizing at least one isoolefin monomer and at least one copolymerizable unsaturated monomer in an organic diluent to produce a halogenatable isoolefin copolymer in an organic medium;
• (b) contacting the organic medium with an aqueous medium comprising an anti-agglomerant comprising a lower critical solution temperature (LOST) compound;
• (c) removing or partially removing the organic diluent to produce an aqueous slurry comprising particles of the halogenatable isoolefin copolymer;
• (d) dissolving the aqueous slurry in an organic solvent in a closed dissolving/separating apparatus to form an halogenatable isoolefin copolymer cement in water, and phase separating the water from the cement in the closed dissolving/separating apparatus;
• (e) contacting the separated halogenatable isoolefin copolymer cement under halogenation conditions with a halogenating agent and an aqueous solution of a C1-20 organic peracid oxidant to form a two-phase reaction medium comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase, the organic peracid oxidant capable of converting hydrogen halide to free halogen;
• and,
• (f) recovering halogenated isoolefin copolymer containing at least 0.05 mol % of chemically combined halogen.