Abstract: A sustained release solid composition for oral administration comprises a physiologically active ingredient embedded in a matrix of a water-insoluble ethylcellulose which has a DS(ethyl) of at least 1.8, wherein the concentration of ethylcellulose is 0.1-20% by dry weight of the active ingredient.

Abstract: A process for fractionating an esterified cellulose ether comprising groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group, comprises the steps of a) blending the esterified cellulose ether comprising groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH with an aqueous liquid and setting the temperature of the resulting blend to less than 10° C. to dissolve a portion of the esterified cellulose ether in the aqueous liquid, b) separating the non-dissolved portion of the esterified cellulose ether from the remainder of the blend, and c) recovering or disposing of the esterified cellulose ether that is dissolved in the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: An aqueous composition which is useful for producing coatings and capsule shells comprises a) dispersed particles of an esterified cellulose ether comprising (i) groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, and the total degree of ester substitution is more than 0.70, and b) an esterified cellulose ether comprising aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, R being a divalent hydrocarbon group, wherein I) the degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH is not more than 0.4, II) the total degree of ester substitution is from 0.03 to 0.70, and III) the esterified cellulose ether b) has a solubility in water of at least 2.0 weight percent at 2° C.

Abstract: A liquid composition which comprises an organic liquid diluent and at least one non-ionic cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 2.33 mPa·s, measured as a 2 wt.-% solution in water at 20° C., is stable over an extended time period. The liquid composition is useful for preparing a solid dispersion comprising at least one active ingredient in at least one cellulose ether by spray-drying. Alternatively a solid dispersion can be produced by blending and extruding at least one active ingredient, at least one cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 2.33 mPa·s and optionally one or more adjuvants.

Abstract: An esterified cellulose comprising aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, R being a divalent hydrocarbon group, has the following properties: i) the degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH is not more than 0.4, ii) the total degree of ester substitution is from 0.03 to 0.38, and iii) the esterified cellulose ether has a solubility in water of at least 2.0 weight percent at 20° C.

Abstract: A process for preparing cellulose ether includes (a) alkylation and etherification of cellulose to form an initial cellulose ether, (b) washing and filtering of the initial cellulose ether; (c) optionally granulating the cellulose ether; (d) compounding the cellulose ether to form a dough; (e) optionally disposing the cellulose ether into a buffer tank; and (f) drying the cellulose ether dough to obtain a final cellulose ether with a lower viscosity than the initial cellulose ether; where the process is characterized by introducing an aqueous catalyst and a peroxy-containing oxidizer to the cellulose ether during at least one of steps (c)-(f), introducing an aqueous enhancer during at least one of steps (c)-(e) and wherein the process is free of drying an isolating cellulose ether after (a) and before drying the final cellulose ether.

Abstract: A liquid composition which comprises an organic liquid diluent and a hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose which has a certain distribution of substituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups and unsubstituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups is stable over an extended time period. In the hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose hydroxyalkoxyl groups are classified into a fraction (A) and a fraction (B), wherein fraction (A) represents the sum of all molar fractions of substituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups having hydroxyl groups substituted further with methoxyl groups and fraction (B) represents the sum of all molar fractions of unsubstituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups having hydroxyl groups not substituted further with methoxyl groups and wherein the ratio fraction (A)/fraction (B) is at least 0.30. The liquid composition is useful for preparing a solid dispersion comprising at least one active ingredient in at least one hydroxypropyl methylcellulose by spray-drying.

Abstract: A liquid composition which comprises an organic liquid diluent and a hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose which has a certain distribution of substituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups and unsubstituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups is stable over an extended time period. In the hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose hydroxyalkoxyl groups are classified into a fraction (A) and a fraction (B), wherein fraction (A) represents the sum of all molar fractions of substituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups having hydroxyl groups substituted further with methoxyl groups and fraction (B) represents the sum of all molar fractions of unsubstituted hydroxyalkoxyl groups having hydroxyl groups not substituted further with methoxyl groups and wherein the ratio fraction (A)/fraction (B) is at least 0.30. The liquid composition is useful for preparing a solid dispersion comprising at least one active ingredient in at least one hydroxypropyl methylcellulose by spray-drying.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making methylcellulose-type ether in powder form, said method comprising (a) providing a solution of said methylcellulose-type ether in water, and (b) then separating said methylcellulose-type ether from said water to produce dried methylcellulose-type ether, with the proviso that either (i) step (b) produces said methylcellulose-type ether in powder form, or (ii) after step (b), said method additionally comprises a step (c) of subjecting said dried methylcellulose-type ether to mechanical stress to produce said methylcellulose-type ether in powder form.

Abstract: A composition useful for making gluten-free bread of high quality comprises a) a gluten-free flour, and b) a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose having a methoxyl content from 24.5 to 29.0 percent and a hydroxypropoxyl content of from 4.0 to 12.0 percent, each being based on the total weight of the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and a having a viscosity of from 60 to 250 mPa·s, determined in a 2% by weight solution in water at 20° C.

Abstract: Esterified cellulose ethers which have i) as ester groups aliphatic monovalent acyl groups or groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, and ii) a content of not more than 0.85 weight percent acetone-insoluble esterified cellulose ether particles, when the esterified cellulose ether is present in a mixture of 12.5 weight parts of esterified cellulose ether and 87.5 weight parts of acetone at 21° C., the weight percent acetone-insoluble esterified cellulose ether particles being based on the total weight of the esterified cellulose ether, wherein iii) not more than 14 percent of the acetone-insoluble esterified cellulose ether particles have a particle size of more than 90 micrometers.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous composition comprising a dispersed esterified cellulose ether comprises the steps of grinding, in the presence of an aqueous diluent an esterified cellulose ether comprising (i) groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a N divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, blending a salt of a fatty acid with the esterified cellulose ether and choosing the amounts of aqueous diluent, esterified cellulose ether and salt of a fatty acid that the produced aqueous composition comprises at least 20 percent of the dispersed esterified cellulose ether and heating the aqueous composition to a temperature of from 37 to 80 C during or after the grinding step.

Abstract: An aqueous composition useful for producing capsules shells comprises a) at least one dispersed esterified cellulose ether comprising (i) groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, and b) from 0.05 to 20 percent of at least one salt of a fatty acid, based on the weight of the dispersed esterified cellulose ether, wherein the median particle size, d50, of the dispersed esterified cellulose ether particles is up to 7 micrometers, such median particle size (d50) being the size at which 50 mass percent of the particles have a smaller equivalent diameter and 50 mass percent have a larger equivalent diameter.

Abstract: 1. An esterified cellulose ether which i) comprises groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH or a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group, ii) has a weight average molecular weight Mw of up to 70,000 Dalton, iii) has a degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH of not more than 0.4, and iv) has a solubility in water of at least 2.0 weight percent at 2° C., is useful for preparing enteric capsules.

Abstract: A liquid composition which comprises an organic liquid diluent and at least one non-ionic cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 2.33 mPa·s, measured as a 2 wt.-% solution in water at 20° C., is stable over an extended time period. The liquid composition is useful for preparing a solid dispersion comprising at least one active ingredient in at least one cellulose ether by spray-drying. Alternatively a solid dispersion can be produced by blending and extruding at least one active ingredient, at least one cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 2.33 mPa»s and optionally one or more adjuvants.

Abstract: A liquid composition which comprises an organic liquid diluent and at least one non-ionic cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 2.33 mPa·s, measured as a 2 wt.-% solution in water at 20° C., is stable over an extended time period. The liquid composition is useful for preparing a solid dispersion comprising at least one active ingredient in at least one cellulose ether by spray-drying. Alternatively a solid dispersion can be produced by blending and extruding at least one active ingredient, at least one cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 2.33 mPa·s and optionally one or more adjuvants.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making an ethylcellulose oleogel comprising cooling a mixture of ethylcellulose polymer and oil from 100° C. to 35° C. at a rate of 0.6° C./min or slower.

Abstract: An esterified cellulose ether comprising aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, R being a divalent hydrocarbon group, has the following properties: i) the degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH is not more than 0.4, ii) the total degree of ester substitution is from 0.10 to 0.70, and iii) the esterified cellulose ether has a solubility in water of at least 2.0 weight percent at 2 C.

Abstract: An aqueous composition which is useful for producing coatings and capsule shells comprises a) dispersed particles of an esterified cellulose ether comprising (i) groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, and the total degree of ester substitution is more than 0.70, and b) an esterified cellulose ether comprising aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, R being a divalent hydrocarbon group, wherein I) the degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH is not more than 0.4, II) the total degree of ester substitution is from 0.03 to 0.70, and III) the esterified cellulose ether b) has a solubility in water of at least 2.0 weight percent at 2° C.

Abstract: A process for producing an aqueous composition comprising a dispersed esterified cellulose ether comprises the steps of grinding, in the presence of an aqueous diluent an esterified cellulose ether comprising (i) groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA or (ii) a combination of aliphatic monovalent acyl groups and groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOA, wherein R is a N divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group and A is hydrogen or a cation, blending a salt of a fatty acid with the esterified cellulose ether and choosing the amounts of aqueous diluent, esterified cellulose ether and salt of a fatty acid that the produced aqueous composition comprises at least 20 percent of the dispersed esterified cellulose ether and heating the aqueous composition to a temperature of from 37 to 80 C during or after the grinding step.