A method for the preparation of a poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) includes: preparing the PEEK by aromatic nucleophilic substitution in the presence of: a) particulate sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), wherein said particulate sodium carbonate has a particle size distribution as follows: D90≥45 μm and D90≤250 μm and D99.5≤710 μm, wherein said particle size distribution is measured by mechanical sieving in accordance with ASTM E 359-00 (reapproved 2005), wherein said measurement is based on the mechanical separation of various fractions on a series of superimposed sieves which are superimposed by descending order of opening mesh of 1000 μm, 500 μm, 250 μm, 180 μm, 125 μm, 90 μm, 63 μm, and 45 μm; and b) potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in an amount ranging from 0.001 to about 0.05 mol K/mol Na.