Anionic ion exchange resins with cholesterol-decreasing properties

A process for producing anionic ion exchange resin with strong cholesterol-decreasing properties, in which a mixture of monomers selected from the group consisting of styrene, acrylic nitrile, methyl acrylate, containing a cross-linked divinyl monomer at a polymerisation temperature of 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. when the resin is a styrene in an amount not substantially less than 1.5% by weight and not substantially more than 2.5% by weight and when the resin is an acrylic in an amount not substantially less than 10% by weight and not substantially more than 12% by weight, which mixture of monomers, corresponding to an apparent density in water of 0.18 to 0.20 of dry material/ml with a water adsorption capacity of 69 to 73% of weight of the polymer weight, wherein the polymerisation catalyst used is an organic peroxide in a concentration of 0.20 to 3% and the thus obtained polymer undergoes a methyl-amination and methylammonification step.

Therapeutic composition with cholesterol-decreasing action, comprising an anionic ion exchange resin prepared from monomers of the group consisting of non-toxic styrene, acrylic or epoxy compounds cross-linked through divinylbenzene and containing methylamino and methylammonium groups having an apparent density in water of 0.18 to 0.20 g of dry material/ml and a water absorption capacity of 69 to 73% by weight of the polymer weight wherein the amount of cross-linking agent when the monomer is styrene is not substantially less than 1.5% by weight and not substantially more than 2.5% by weight, when the monomer is an acrylic is not substantially less than 10% by weight and not substantially more than 12% by weight and when the monomer is an epoxy is not substantially less than 3% by weight and not substantially more than 4% by weight, said weight ratios being calculated on the combined weight of the monomer and the cross-linking agent.

An anionic ion exchange epoxy resin with strong, cholesterol-decreasing properties, which is a polymer of epichloridrine cross-linked with divinylbenzene, containing methylamino and methylammonium groups and has an apparent density in water of 0.18 to 0.20 g of dry material/ml and a water absorption capacity of 69 to 73% by weight of the polymer weight said epoxy resin having the following characteristics:

• ______________________________________ cross-linkage 3-4% strong exchange power 2-5 meq/g total exchange power 10-12.5 meq/g ______________________________________

A process for producing anionic ion exchange epoxy resin with strong cholesterol-decreasing properties, in which epichlorydrine is polymerised with 3 to 5% of divinyl-benzene (100%) in the presence of an organic peroxide as catalyst in a concentration of 0.2 to 1.5%, at a polymerisation temperature of 55.degree. to 70.degree. C. and the thus obtained polymer undergoes an amination and ammonification step with an excess of polyamine, at a temperature of 35.degree.-40.degree. C. followed by treatment with CH.sub.3 Br and a 5% NaCl solution.