Abstract: A surface decoration structure includes an undercoat film, a silver mirror film layer, and a topcoat film formed on a surface of a substrate. The silver mirror film layer includes a film of stacked nanometer-sized silver particles having surfaces coated with a polymer dispersing agent, and the topcoat film includes, as a solvent, at least one member selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound, an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound solution including 10% by mass or less of an aromatic compound, and diisobutyl ketone. The undercoat film and/or the topcoat film may include a corrosion inhibitor. The silver mirror film layer may further include a corrosion inhibitor. The surface decoration structure includes the silver mirror film layer with improved luster and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cellulose acetate with excellent biodegradability in seawater. A cellulose acetate having a total degree of acetyl substitution of not greater than 2.7, a ratio ? of a sum of a degree of acetyl substitution at the 2-position and a degree of acetyl substitution at the 3-position to a degree of acetyl substitution at the 6-position in the total degree of acetyl substitution of not less than 2.0, and a sulfate component amount of greater than 20 ppm and not greater than 400 ppm.

Abstract: A cellulose derivative having a long-chain organic group having 5 or more carbon atoms and a short-chain organic group having 4 or less carbon atoms which are introduced by use of hydroxy groups of a cellulose, and including a crystal structure derived from a cellulose derivative portion to which the short-chain organic group is linked, wherein an average number of hydroxy groups per glucose unit is of 1.0 or less.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for whole column imaging detection (WCID) capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF). The apparatus includes a separation capillary having a separation inner diameter and a separation outer diameter; a base, wherein the separation capillary is anchored to the base; an inlet transfer capillary having an inlet inner diameter and an inlet outer diameter; and an outlet transfer capillary having an outlet inner diameter and an outlet outer diameter. The inlet transfer capillary, the separation capillary, and outlet transfer capillary are configured to be in fluidic communication with each other. The separation inner diameter exceeds the outlet inner diameter.

Abstract: Method for fabricating fiber and film products and composites includes: introducing an aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose into a volume of organic extraction agent miscible with water so that the aqueous gel is kept as a separate phase and forms one or several discrete physical entities containing the nanofibrillar cellulose within the phase; changing water with the organic extraction agent in said one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose; and drying the nanofibrillar cellulose by removing the organic extraction agent from the one or several discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose. In the method the aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose is introduced into the volume of organic extraction agent in the form of one or several elongated elements which form a fiber-like or ribbon-like or film-like product after drying.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the preparation of a modified lignocellulosic material by treating the lignocellulosic material in a first activator zone having an atmosphere of one or more acid anhydrides in vapour form in a gas at a gauge pressure of 0-50 kPag and a temperature of 100-160° C., and then treating the lignocellulosic material in a second reactor zone having an atmosphere of a gas at a gauge pressure of 0-50 kPag and a temperature of 120-190° C., thereafter stripping the lignocellulosic material with steam or water in a stripper zone, and optionally further processing. The process is more efficient as compared with the prior art processes by providing a better access of the acid anhydrides to the sites of the reactive lignocellulosic hydroxyl groups (—OH), which are located on the internal surfaces of pores and capillary channels in the lignocellulose. Furthermore, the apparatus is relatively simple.

Abstract: This invention provides cellulose ester interpolymers, and methods of oxidizing cellulose interpolymers and cellulose ester interpolymers. The invention also provides routes to access carboxylated cellulose ester derivatives with high acid numbers wherein the carboxyl group is attached directly to the cellulose backbone by a carbon-carbon bond. Through functionalization of an intermediate aldehyde, the corresponding cationic or zwitterionic cellulose ester derivatives can also be accessed. The interpolymers of the present invention have a number of end-use applications, for example, as binder resins in various types of coating compositions and as drug delivery agents.

Abstract: This invention provides cellulose ester interpolymers, and methods of oxidizing cellulose interpolymers and cellulose ester interpolymers. The invention also provides routes to access carboxylated cellulose ester derivatives with high acid numbers wherein the carboxyl group is attached directly to the cellulose backbone by a carbon-carbon bond. Through functionalization of an intermediate aldehyde, the corresponding cationic or zwitterionic cellulose ester derivatives can also be accessed. The interpolymers of the present invention have a number of end-use applications, for example, as binder resins in various types of coating compositions and as drug delivery agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of alkali cellulose for the production of alkali cellulose and, optionally, cellulose ethers from cellulose in the presence of alkali and, if applicable, with alkylating and/or hydroxyalkylating agent(s) comprising the reaction of a cellulose with an alkali metal hydroxide, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is mixed with cellulose in a mixing apparatus, the mixing apparatus (1) having an upper region (20, 102a, 202a) with a first cross-section and a lower region (21, 102b, 202b) with a second cross-section, the second cross-section being the same as or smaller than the first cross-section and comprising at least one non-horizontally oriented mixing device (23, 27, 121, 221, 224).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a decrystallized cellulose having a reduced cellulose I-type crystallinity from a cellulose-containing raw material in an efficient manner with an excellent productivity. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for producing a decrystallized cellulose from a raw material comprising at least 20% by weight, based on the weight of the raw material excluding water contained therein, of a cellulose having a cellulose I-type crystallinity of more than 33% as calculated from the following formula: Cellulose I-type Crystallinity (%)=[(I22.6?I18.5)/I22.6]×100 wherein I22.6 is a diffraction intensity of a lattice plane (002 plane) as measured at a diffraction angle 2? of 22.6° in X-ray diffraction analysis; and I18.5 is a diffraction intensity of an amorphous moiety as measured at a diffraction angle 2? of 18.

Abstract: Instilling an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture can be beneficial during the acylation of cellulose. Methods described herein can comprise preparing a reaction mixture comprising an acylating agent and cellulose, instilling a catalyst comprising an acid to the reaction mixture at an overall catalyst loading level of about 1% or less by weight of the cellulose, and reacting the cellulose with the acylating agent in the presence of the catalyst, thereby forming an acylated cellulose.

Abstract: Instilling an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture can be beneficial during the acylation of cellulose. Methods described herein can comprise preparing a reaction mixture comprising an acylating agent and cellulose, instilling a catalyst comprising an acid to the reaction mixture, and reacting the cellulose with the acylating agent in the presence of the catalyst, thereby forming an acylated cellulose.

Abstract: Instilling an acidic catalyst to a reaction mixture can be beneficial during the acylation of cellulose. Methods described herein can comprise preparing a reaction mixture comprising an acylating agent and cellulose, instilling a catalyst comprising an acid to the reaction mixture at an overall catalyst loading level of about 10% to about 20% by weight of the cellulose, and reacting the cellulose with the acylating agent in the presence of the catalyst, thereby forming an acylated cellulose.

Abstract: A cellulose derivative which has a suitable elastic modulus and viscosity when it is dissolved in water and is useful as an adhesion barrier. The cellulose derivative has a molecular weight of 5×103 to 5×106 and is composed of a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of the following formulas (a), (b), (c) and (d) in predetermined amount: (X in the formula (c) is an alkali metal, and R4 and R5 in the formula (d) are each independently an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 10 to 28 carbon atoms).

Abstract: This invention relates to novel compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters. One aspect of the invention relates to processes for preparing regioselectively substituted cellulose esters from cellulose dissolved in ionic liquids. Another aspect of the invention relates to the utility of regioselectively substituted cellulose esters in applications such as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose diacetate comprising a 6-position highly acetylated cellulose diacetate having a 6-percent viscosity of 40 to 600 mPa·s, and having a total degree of acetyl substitution of DSt and a degree of acetyl substitution at the 6-position of DS6, wherein DSt and DS6 satisfy following Conditions (1) and (2): 2.0?DSt<2.6??(1) 0.400?(DS6/DSt)?0.531?0.088×DSt??(2) The cellulose diacetate is usable typically as a starting material for cellulose acylates of different acyl groups, which have a high total degree of acyl substitution, have superior optical properties, and usable typically as photographic materials and optical materials.

Abstract: A cellulous acylate film in which X-ray diffractive intensity satisfies the following Formulae (I) to (V) and in which a half-value width of the peak at 2?2 is 2.8° or less as observed in the sectional view in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the film: 0.60?Ici/Ico??Formula (I) Iam=I1+{(I3?I1)/(2?3?2?1)}×(2?2?2?1)??Formula (II) Ic=I2?Iam??Formula (III) Ici=Ic11/Ic12??Formula (IV) Ico={(Ic21/Ic22)+(Ic31/Ic32)}/2.

Abstract: A cellulous acylate film in which X-ray diffractive intensity satisfies the following Formulae (I) to (V) and in which a half-value width of the peak at 2?2 is 2.8° or less as observed in the sectional view in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the film: 0.00?Ici/Ico<0.60;??Formula (I) Iam=I1+{(I3?I1)/(2?3?2?1)}×(2?2?2?1);??Formula (II) Ic=I2?Iam;??Formula (III) Ici=Ic11/Ic12; and??Formula (IV) Ico={(Ic21/Ic22)+(Ic31/Ic32)}/2.

Abstract: There is provided a crosslinked cellulose hydrate membrane having a porous double structure which consists of micropores having a diameter in the range from >100 nm to 20 ?m and ultrapores which have a diameter of <100 nm and which are not accessible to Blue Dextran having an average molecular weight Mw of 2 000 000, wherein the fraction of the volume of the ultrapores is more than 15% of the entire pore volume accessible to water, and wherein hydrophobic ligands, selected from C1-C20-alkyl and their derivatives or C6-C25-aryl and their derivatives or C7-C25-arylalkyl and their derivatives or —[(CH2)m—O—]n—R, where m is 2 or 3, n is a whole number greater than or equal to 1, and R is —H or —C1-C5-alkyl, are bonded to the membrane. In addition, methods for producing the membrane, an apparatus for hydrophobic interaction chromatography and comprising the membrane, and the use of the membrane in hydrophobic interaction chromatography are specified.

Abstract: A process for adjusting an intermolecular or intermolecular degree of acetyl substitution of cellulose acetate is disclosed. The process comprises ripening cellulose acetate in the presence of a catalyst, an acetyl donor, and water or an alcohol. The amount of water and the alcohol is in the range of 0.1 to 10 mol % based on the amount of the acetyl donor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cellulose diacetate comprising a 6-position highly acetylated cellulose diacetate having a 6-percent viscosity of 40 to 600 mPa·s, and having a total degree of acetyl substitution of DSt and a degree of acetyl substitution at the 6-position of DS6, wherein DSt and DS6 satisfy following Conditions (1) and (2): 2.0?DSt<2.6 ??(1) 0.400?(DS6/DSt)?0.531?0.088×DSt ??(2) The cellulose diacetate is usable typically as a starting material for cellulose acylates of different acyl groups, which have a high total degree of acyl substitution, have superior optical properties, and usable typically as photographic materials and optical materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for alkaline saponification of a polymer film, comprising the steps of: alkaline saponification of the polymer film with an alkaline solution; and washing away the alkaline solution from the alkali-saponified polymer film, wherein the washing step includes a plurality of water-washing steps of washing the alkaline solution coated on the polymer film away using washing water, along the travel direction of the polymer film, and the used washing water is reused in order to perform alkaline saponification of a polymer film which allow efficient use of washing water and realize low cost and low environmental load while maintaining quality stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retardation film obtained by subjecting a film formed from a cellulose derivative to an orientation treatment, wherein a hydroxyl group of cellulose is substituted by at least one kind of aliphatic acyl group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms, and a degree of substitution by said hydroxyl group is 1 to 3. According to the present invention, a retardation film having various wavelength dispersion characteristics, positiveness or negativeness in birefringence and viewing angle characteristics, in particular, an achromatic retardation film and a retardation film having a high birefringent property and the like can be obtained by preparing a retardation film using a properly selected said cellulose derivative as a raw material of the film.

Abstract: A nonionic water-soluble cellulose ether is characterized in that when 3 pbw of the nonionic water-soluble cellulose ether is added to a mixture of 90 pbw of cordierite, 10 pbw of ordinary Portland cement, and 33 pbw of water, immediately followed by kneading at 20° C. and 20 rpm, a maximum torque for kneading is reached within 180 seconds from the addition. It is suitable as an admixture for extrudable hydraulic compositions. The hydraulic composition to which the inventive admixture is added can be kneaded within a brief time into a uniform mass which is smoothly extrudable.

Abstract: A process for alkali saponification of polymer film is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of applying solution of an alkali onto a polymer film having a temperature of not lower than room temperature, and washing away the alkaline solution from the film.

Abstract: In a multi-layer structure of a cellulose acylate film, the averaged degree of acylation of surface layers is controlled in the range of 0.5 to 2.8 by mixing several sorts of cellulose acylates having different averaged degrees of acyation. One of the surface layers is formed on a substrate by casting a solution containing cellulose acylate made of cotton linter. Lubricant particles are added to a solution for the surface layers, and emission compounds to a solution for the inner layers. The obtained cellulose acylate film is excellent in adhesive property to the hydrophobic material without saponification, and adequately used for the polarizing filter, an optical compensation sheet, and liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A nonionic water-soluble cellulose ether is characterized in that when 3 pbw of the nonionic water-soluble cellulose ether is added to a mixture of 90 pbw of cordierite, 10 pbw of ordinary Portland cement, and 33 pbw of water, immediately followed by kneading at 20° C. and 20 rpm, a maximum torque for kneading is reached within 180 seconds from the addition. It is suitable as an admixture for extrudable hydraulic compositions. The hydraulic composition to which the inventive admixture is added can be kneaded within a brief time into a uniform mass which is smoothly extrudable.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a transparent support and an optically anisotropic layer. The optically anisotropic layer is formed from liquid crystal molecules and monomers having four or more double bonds. The monomers are polymerized to form a polymer in the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A resin composition, which comprises a biodegradable polymer and a biodegradable liquid crystalline polymer. The resin composition is useful for producing molded resin articles having good recyclability.

Abstract: A method for improving holdout on a coated, cellulosic substrate, such as a man-made fiber board. The process comprises the steps of applying an aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate size composition to a man-made fiber substrate, forming a sized substrate. The sized substrate is then dried. Next, an aqueous coating composition is applied to form a coated, sized substrate. The coated, sized substrate is then dried. According to the invention, the aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate size composition used in the process comprises carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate, water, and an organic solvent. The invention also relates to a sized, man-made fiber substrate comprising a man-made fiber substrate and a carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate size. The carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate may be either an internal sizing agent, or an external sizing agent.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that the solution rheology of cellulose ethers prepared from cellulose pulp is altered by mercerizing and recovering cellulose pulp before preparing the cellulose ethers. For example, the solution viscosity of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) produced from mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp is significantly greater than that produced from non-mercerized cellulose pulp. The present invention provides a method of preparing cellulose ethers comprising the steps of (a) obtaining mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp, and (b) converting the mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp into the cellulose ethers. According to one embodiment, the cellulose pulp is southern softwood kraft and the mercerized cellulose pulp has a TAPPI 230 om-89 viscosity of at most 12 cP. This method, however, may be applied to all cellulose pulps, regardless of their viscosities, including those which, when mercerized, have a viscosity greater than 12 cP.

Abstract: A cellulose acylate solution is used for producing a film in a solution casting method. Particles to be added to the cellulose acylate solution are silicon dioxide and surfaces of the particles are positively charged. After the particles are added to the solution, the filtrated solution is used for the film production. Thus the aggregation is prevented, and after the filtration pressure increases, the particles of large size are not contained in the filtrated solution. The obtained film contains a small amount of foreign materials and the situation of the film surface is good.

Abstract: Disclosed are an organic-inorganic hybrid film comprising a cellulose derivative and a polycondensation product of a condensation polymerizable reactive metal compound, wherein the film contains a plasticizer in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight and its manufacturing method.

Abstract: A method for forming II-type cellulose, which comprises introducing together a slurry having water and a I-type cellulose dispersed therein and water in the state of high temperature and high pressure to a tubular reactor (28) contacting the I-type cellulose with a hot water in a supercritical state or subcritical state for a predetermined time in the tubular reactor (28), to thereby cleave a part of the hydrogen bonds in the I-type cellulose and dissolve the I-type cellulose into the water in a supercritical state or subcritical state, cooling a cellulose solution discharged from the tubular reactor (28) in a cooler (30) to room temperature or lower, followed by allowing to stand, to thereby precipitate crystals of II-type cellulose having a molecular weight lower than that of the I-type cellulose, and separating the resultant II-type cellulose from a solvent. The method allows the preparation of pure II-type cellulose by the use of a simple process.

Abstract: In a cellulose acylate solution, cellulose acylate is dissolved in an essentially non-chlorinated solvent. The essentially non-chlorinated solvent is a mixture of a ketone having a solubility parameter of 19 to 21 and an ester having a solubility parameter of 19 to 21. The solution further contains a releasing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cellulose triacetate which exhibits a satisfactory filtration performance Thus, the present invention provides a cellulose triacetate whose occlusion constant (K) determined by the following method is 70 or less. Method: the cellulose triacetate is dissolved in a solvent mixture of methylene chloride/methanol (9/1 w/w) to form a 16% by weight (as a solid concentration) solution, which is then filtered under a constant pressure at the filtration pressure of 3 kg/cm2 and the temperature of 25° C. using a muslin filter to determine a filtered volume with the lapse of time, from which the slope of a linear curve represented by t/V−t (wherein t is a filtration time (sec) and V is a filtered volume (ml)) is calculated to obtain an occlusion constant (K) where K=slope×2×104.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorinated biopolymer and polymer derivatives useful as imaging probes, diagnostic agents and contrast agents and to imaging methods employing the fluorinated biopolymers and polymers.

Abstract: A method of making cellulose polymer solution comprises dissolving a cellulose polymer raw material in a chlorine-free organic solvent system under a high temperature and a high pressure condition belonging to the nearcritical or the supercritical region of the system. By removing the solvent from the thus obtained cellulose polymer solution, cellulose polymer powders are also produced.

Abstract: Improved anti-reflective coating compositions for use in integrated circuit manufacturing processes and methods of forming these compositions are provided. Broadly, the compositions are formed by heating a solution comprising a compound including specific compounds (e.g., alkoxy alkyl melamines, alkoxy alkyl benzoguanamines) under acidic conditions so as to polymerize the compounds and form polymers having an average molecular weight of at least about 1,000 Daltons. The monomers of the resulting polymers are joined to one another via linkage groups (e.g., —CH2—, —CH2—O—CH2—) which are bonded to nitrogen atoms on the respective monomers. The polymerized compound is mixed with a solvent and applied to a substrate surface after which it is baked to form an anti-reflective layer. The resulting layer has high k values and can be formulated for both conformal and planar applications.

Abstract: A method of making cellulose polymer solution comprises dissolving a cellulose polymer raw material in a chlorine-free organic solvent system under a high temperature and a high pressure condition belonging to the nearcritical or the supercritical region of the system. By removing the solvent from the thus obtained cellulose polymer solution, cellulose polymer powders are also produced.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the modification of polysaccharide structures using polysaccharidase binding or catalytic domains either alone or in tandem to modify the structure of polysaccharides. These methods and compositions are exemplified by the use of cellulase binding and catalytic domains to polish cotton, and to alter dying characteristics, texture and porosity of cellulose fibers.

Abstract: A process for producing cellullose acetate by acetylation reaction with cellulose as a raw material, wherein acetate is used as an acetylating agent.

Abstract: A process and materials are described in which highly refined cellulose fibers are broken down into microfibers and further processed into compositions, films, coatings and solid materials which are biodegradable and even edible. The process for the formation of hardenable compositions may comprise providing a composition comprising highly refined non-wood cellulose fiber, mechanically reducing the size of the non-wood cellulose fiber to less than 2 mm, reducing the amount of binding of microfibers by lignin within said non-wood cellulose fibers present in said composition comprising cellulose fiber to form a first fiber product, providing pressure of at least 300 psi to said first fiber product while it is in the presence of a liquid, and removing said pressure within a time interval which will cause said cellulose fiber to break down into a second fiber product comprising microfibers in said liquid.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to obtain cellulose acetate with improved physical properties, particularly film strength arid improved flexibility of the molded product. Cellulose acetate wherein average degree of acetylation is not less than 59%, viscosity average degree of polymerization (DP) is not less than 290, and concentrated solution viscosity (.eta.) according to the falling ball viscosity method for viscosity average degree of polymerization (DP) is expressed by the following formula (1): 2.814.times.ln(DP)-11.753.ltoreq.ln(.eta.).ltoreq.7.28.times.ln(DP)-37.059 (1) and a process for production thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition of photopolymerizable coatings forming cosmetic films that are especially useful for human and animal nail coatings. The coating compositions are based on certain cellulose ester derivatives, which possess groups capable of free radical addition reactions with unsaturated ethylenic pendant groups on other compounds upon exposure to actinic radiation in the presence of an photoinitiator. The coating compositions contain solvents, pigments, modifying resins, plasticizers, and other compounds mixed and maintained in a liquid solution.

Abstract: Disclosed are aminated acetate fiber comprising acetylcellulose and one or more water-insoluble quaternary starch ether esters, said starch ether esters containing ester groups of formulae --O--CO--CH.sub.3 and/or --O--CO--C.sub.2 H.sub.5 and ether groups of the general formula I--O--CH.sub.2 --X--CH.sub.2 --N.sup.+ R.sub.3 A.sup.- (I)whereX is a direct bond or --CH(OH)-- andA.sup.- is an anion or one equivalent of an anion, andR is hydrogen, methyl and/or ethyl,and the degree of substitution of said ether group being within the range from 0.002 to 0.8, the degree of substitution of said ester group being within the range from 0.7 to 2.998 and the overall degree of substitution being within the range from 1.5 to 3, its preparation and its use and also quaternary starch ether esters present therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified cellulose ester containing unsaturated pendent groups which can be prepared by reacting a cellulose ester containing residual hydroxyl groups with, for example, maleic anhydride in acetic acid solvent with sodium acetate catalyst. The modified cellulose ester is not homopolymerizable but will copolymerize in the presence of vinyl crosslinking agents and a photoinitiator upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The modified cellulose ester is useful as a protective and/or decorative coating for wood, metal, plastics, paper, board, and other substrates, as well as an additive to printing inks, and as a nail polish. In addition, because of the propensity for the pendant carboxyl groups to form hydrophilic salts with amines, the modified cellulose esters can be formulated to be water-dispersible.

Abstract: A fatty acid ester of cellulose having excellent transparency, filterability and spinnability in spite of its high content of mannose and xylose, wherein the total molar content of mannose and xylose accounts for at least 7% of that of glucose, mannose and xylose, and the amount of filtration satisfies a specified requirement. Such a fatty acid ester of cellulose is prepared by using a pulp having a low .alpha.-cellulose content as a raw material and a fatty acid corresponding to the ester as a diluent and adding an organic solvent in an amount of at least 10% by weight based on the diluent in any step during the preparation. In the preparation of cellulose diacetate, which excellent filterability and transparency, by the acetic acid process, the cellulose diacetate obtained by aging is dissolved in a solvent which can dissolve it and the resulting cellulose diacetate is recovered.

Abstract: A process for preparing a carboxylated cellulose ester from oxidized cellulose is described. The carboxylated cellulose esters have improved solvent solubility and coating resin compatibility when compared to cellulose esters made from regular grade cellulose. The process comprises activating the oxidized cellulose with water. The activated oxidized cellulose is then dehydrated by displacing the water with acetic acid and optionally displacing at least some of the acetic acid with butyric acid or propionic acid. After dehydration the activated cellulose is reacted with an esterifying reagent in the presence of a catalyst at about 0.degree. C. The temperature is gradually increased to a level sufficient to complete reaction and to obtain an intrinsic viscosity ranging from about 0.2 to about 1.6 dl/g. The reacted solution is then hydrolyzed to obtain a hydroxyl content ranging from about 0.05 to about 1.0.

Abstract: Cellulose acetate having a high moldability and low solution viscosity in spite of having a high average degree of polymerization is obtained. The low molecular weight components of cellulose acetate (e.g., CTA having average degree of acetylation of 59.0 to 62.5%) are eluted with a washing solvent to produce a cellulose acetate having a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 1 to 1.7. As the washing solvent, those swell or partially dissolve the cellulose acetate, for example, those which dissolve 0.1 to 30% by weight of cellulose acetate can be used. This solvent includes, for example, a solvent having a solubility parameter .delta. of 7 to 12.5 (ketones, ethers, organic acid, esters, etc.).