1. A granular absorbent composition produced by dry mixing a particulate polymeric material being characterized as having surface anionic reactive sites with a source of multi-valent metal ions forming surface ionic bridges between various ionic group polymer chains substantially within each polymer particle while a hydrophobic coating on each particle and only after said dry mixing of said polymeric material and source of multi-valent metal ions, adding thereto a dispersant to form a wet slurry which is subsequently dried to a granular consistency.