Abstract: Capsule shells and coatings can be prepared from an aqueous composition comprising a) at least 20 percent, based on the total weight of the aqueous composition, of a 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, b) from 0.05 to 20 percent of a salt of a fatty acid, based on the weight of the dispersed esterified cellulose ether, and c) from 0.01 to 10 percent of an anionic surfactant comprising a sulfate or sulfonate group, based on the weight of the dispersed esterified cellulose ether.

Abstract: Provided is a composition in powder form comprising methylcellulose, wherein said composition has a powder x-ray diffraction spectrum at source x-ray wavelength of 1.789 ? showing a peak at a 2? value between 14.5 and 16.5 degrees having intensity level Ipeak and a trough at a 2? value between 16.51 and 20 degrees having intensity level Itrough, wherein a peak index PIndex is defined as PIndex=(Ipeak?Itrough)/Itrough and wherein said PIndex is 0.01 or greater.

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 new water-based inorganic binder composition includes inorganic binder, cellulose ether and microcrystalline cellulose. A new additive for water-based inorganic binder compositions includes cellulose ether and microcrystalline cellulose. A method for improving the properties of water-based inorganic binder compositions includes blending a combination of cellulose ether and microcrystalline cellulose in the water-based binder composition.

Abstract: A composition designed for application to a mucosa comprises a tonicity-adjusting agent, a methylcellulose, and a liquid diluent, wherein the methylcellulose has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is 0.36 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.

Abstract: An aqueous composition comprising an esterified cellulose ether being at least partially dissolved in an aqueous liquid, wherein the esterified cellulose ether comprises groups of the formula —C(O)—R—COOH, wherein R is a divalent hydrocarbon group is produced in a process which comprises the step of a) mixing the esterified cellulose ether with the aqueous liquid, and b) maintaining or adjusting the degree of neutralization of the groups —C(O)—R—COOH of the esterified cellulose ether at or to less than 0.45 and setting the temperature of the mixture of the esterified cellulose ether and the aqueous liquid to less than 10 C to at least partially dissolve the esterified cellulose ether in the aqueous liquid.

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: 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: 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: 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 solution comprising (a) one or more mono-, di- and/or oligosaccharides and (b) a methylcellulose, wherein the methylcellulose has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is 0.36 or less, is produced by i) mixing the methylcellulose with an aqueous liquid comprising one or more mono-, di- and/or oligosaccharides at a shear rate of at least 1000 s?1 or ii) mixing one or more mono-, di- and/or oligosaccharides with the methylcellulose and/or an aqueous liquid before, simultaneously with or after mixing the methylcellulose with the aqueous liquid at a shear rate of at least 1000 s?1.

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: 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: Cellulose ethers are described herein which are useful in food compositions. In these cellulose ethers the ether substituents are methyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups, and optionally alkyl groups being different from methyl, the cellulose ether has a DS(methyl) of from 1.65 to 2.20, an MS(hydroxyalkyl) of from 0.10 to 1.00, and hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that [s23/s26?0.2*MS(hydroxyalkyl)] is 0.35 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.

Abstract: Cellulose ethers are described which are useful in compositions for extrusion-molded bodies. In these cellulose ethers the ether substituents are methyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups, and optionally alkyl groups being different from methyl, the cellulose ether has an MS (hydroxyalkyl) of 0.11 to 1.00, and hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that [s23/s26?0.2*MS (hydroxyalkyl)] is 0.35 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.

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 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 composition designed for application to a mucosa comprises i) a tonicity-adjusting agent, ii) an aqueous liquid diluent, and iii) 0.1 to 6 weight percent of a cellulose ether having a viscosity of up to 8000 mPa·s, wherein the cellulose ether has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages and has methyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups, and optionally alkyl groups being different from methyl as substituents such that hydroxyl groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is 0.29 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxyl groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with a methyl group and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxyl groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with a methyl group.

Abstract: Cellulose ethers are described herein which are useful in capsules or in coatings for dosage forms. In these cellulose ethers the ether substituents are methyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups, and optionally alkyl groups being different from methyl, the cellulose ether has an MS (hydroxyalkyl) of 0.05 to 1.00, and hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that [s23/s26?0.2*MS(hydroxyalkyl)] is 0.35 or less, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.

Abstract: A composition designed for application to a mucosa comprises a tonicity-adjusting agent, a hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose and a liquid diluent, wherein the hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose has a DS of from 1.6 to 2.7 and an MS of from 0.40 to 1.30, wherein DS is the degree of substitution of methoxyl groups and MS is the molar substitution of hydroxyalkoxyl groups, and at least 55 weight percent of the liquid diluent is water. When the composition comprises additionally a physiologically active agent, the composition may be used for transmucosal administration of the physiologically active agent to an individual.