Abstract: The invention relates to the dehairing (depilating) of animal pelts, hides or skins, more specifically to depilatory paint and depilatory paint (depilation paint) thickener used in the depilation process in for example fellmongeries. The invention provides a depilatory paint thickener comprising a starch containing essentially only amylopectin molecules. Such thickener, is among other things, easily soluble in cold water; improves diffusion of chemicals (like sulfide or lime) throughout the skin; improves viscosity or resistance to shear of a paint, whereby less starch is needed to exert a similar effect; and increases the suspendability of a lime, allowing less time to be used which creates environmental advantages in waste disposal.

Abstract: Dry products in flake or granulate form suitable as a paste base may be obtained by drying a mixture, containing approximately 30 to 80% by weight of water, of from(a) 30 to 95% by weight of carboxymethylated and/or alkoxylated starch,(b) 3 to 40% by weight of a cellulose ether, and(c) 2 to 40% by weight of a water-dispersible polymer or water-soluble polymer, and(d) optionally, conventional additives, such as preservatives, wetting agents, fillers and the like,in a thin layer on a surface heated to 80.degree. to 200.degree. C. The dry products obtained do not undergo physical separation and are readily dispersible or self-dispersible in water.

Abstract: A process for the dry etherification of granular starch is disclosed. The process is carried out in the presence of an alkaline catalyst and water, and in the presence of an organic acid in the solid state, which organic acid has a solubility at 25.degree. C. ranging from 0.2 to 5 g in 100 g water. Examples of suitable organic acids are fumaric acid and adipic acid.