Abstract: Apparatus for continuously producing water-soluble hydroxyalkyl cellulose and related ethers comprising, in combination, the following elements connected in series: a stirred kettle for alkalizing cellulose at atmospheric pressure, at least one stirred autoclave for partially etherifying the alkalized cellulose, individual homogenizing pumps at the outlet of the stirred kettle and at the outlet of each stirred autoclave, individual bypass lines leading from the bottom of the stirred kettle to the upper end thereof and from the bottom of each stirred autoclave to the upper end of the same autoclave for circulating slurry from each vessel in a loop, a tubular reactor comprising a plurality of serially-connected, horizontal tubes for completing the etherification of the cellulose slurry, the first tube of the tubular reactor being provided with a non-conveying, homogenizing agitator, and each subsequent tube being provided with a conveying agitator such as an impeller, means such as a jacket for each section of

Abstract: A continuous process for manufacturing water-soluble hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and water-soluble mixed ethers based on hydroxyalkyl cellulose, comprising producing a slurry comprising (by weight) 1 part cellulose, 0.02 to 0.6 parts alkali metal hydroxide, 5 to 10 parts inert organic solvent, and 0.4 to 2.5 parts water; continuously feeding the slurry to a first elevated pressure reactor and mixing the slurry therein with at least one normally gaseous etherifying agent which has been liquified under pressure; maintaining the slurry at a temperature up to 40.degree. C., and a gauge pressure up to 3 bars, for 15 to 90 minutes, to give a degree of substitution from 0.2 to 1.

Abstract: In the manufacture of cellulose glycolate, a reaction mixture comprising per 1 part by weight of cellulose 0.2 to 0.6 part by weight of sodium hydroxide, 0.5 to 1.75 parts by weight of sodium monochloroacetate, 7 to 22 parts by weight of isopropanol, and from 20% to 50% by weight, based on the weight of isopropanol, of water is subjected to shearing forces at a temperature less than 30.degree. C to effect intimate mixing and then reacted to cause etherification of the cellulose in a reaction area held at a temperature in the range of 60.degree. C to 90.degree. C and held constant within each section of the reaction area. The residence time of the mixture in the mixing zone is at most one-tenth of its residence time in the reaction area. The solid and liquid components of the reaction mixture after etherification are separated mechanically.