Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a multimodal copolymer of ethylene and a comonomer which is 1-hexene and/or 1-butene in a series of polymerization reactors comprising at least a first polymerization reactor and a second polymerization reactor, the process comprising: a) feeding ethylene, hydrogen and catalyst components (1) and a first diluent (29) to the first polymerization reactor (A) to prepare a first suspension (3) of solid particles of a first ethylene polymer in a first suspension medium, wherein the first diluent (29) comprises branched heptane and is essentially free of the comonomer; b) feeding the first suspension (3) to a flash drum (E) for vaporizing a part of the first suspension medium to obtain a hydrogen-depleted suspension (4), c) feeding the hydrogen-depleted suspension (4), ethylene and comonomer (9) and a second diluent (24 & 34) to the second polymerization reactor (H) to prepare a second suspension (11) of solid particles of a second ethylene polymer in a