The present invention is a method for producing a modified cellulose including the following step A: step A: introducing a cellulose raw material with a substituent having 6 or more carbon atoms to a group in which a hydrogen atom is removed from a hydroxyl group of a cellulose backbone, in the presence of water and a surfactant. The present invention relates to a method for producing a modified cellulose having a high affinity of an organic solvent, a resin or the like, and a hydrophobic medium, using a reaction system with low environmental loads and with prospects of reduction in production costs.

A process includes: (a) providing an initial cellulose ether powder containing 0.5 to 10 weight-percent water based on total cellulose ether powder weight; (b) heating the initial cellulose ether powder to a temperature in a range of 30 to 130 degrees Celsius; (c) before, during and/or after heating in step (b), adding solid base to the cellulose ether powder and mixing with the initial cellulose ether powder to form a cellulose ether/base mixture; (d) adding volatile acid to the cellulose ether/base mixture and mixing; and (e) allowing the volatile acid to hydrolyze the initial cellulose ether to form a final cellulose ether having a lower viscosity than the initial cellulose ether.

A process includes: (a) providing an initial cellulose ether powder containing 0.5 to 10 weight-percent water based on total cellulose ether powder weight; (b) heating the initial cellulose ether powder to a temperature in a range of 30 to 130 degrees Celsius; (c) before, during and/or after heating in step (b), adding solid base to the cellulose ether powder and mixing with the initial cellulose ether powder to form a cellulose ether/base mixture; (d) adding volatile acid to the cellulose ether/base mixture and mixing; and (e) allowing the volatile acid to hydrolyze the initial cellulose ether to form a final cellulose ether having a lower viscosity than the initial cellulose ether.

A sustained release composition for oral administration comprises particles of a physiologically active ingredient mixed with a hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose, wherein the ether substituents are methyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups, and optionally alkyl groups being different from methyl, the hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose 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 0.30 or less, and wherein the concentration of hydroxyalkyl methylcellulose is 0.1-10% by dry weight of the active ingredient.

Provided is a method of stably producing a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether powder having a high bulk density at low cost by adding a minimum amount of water. More specifically provided is a method for producing a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether powder, comprising the steps of: reacting alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent to obtain a reaction product; washing and draining the reaction product to obtain a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether; mixing the water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether with such an amount of water of 70° C. or higher as to make a water content of the water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether become 55 to 90% by weight to obtain a water-containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether having a water content of 55 to 90% by weight; cooling the water-containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether; and drying and pulverizing the cooled water-containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether.

Provided is a method of stably producing a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether powder having a high bulk density at low cost by adding a minimum amount of water. More specifically provided is a method for producing a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether powder, comprising the steps of: reacting alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent to obtain a reaction product; washing and draining the reaction product to obtain a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether; mixing the water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether with such an amount of water of 70° C. or higher as to make a water content of the water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether become 55 to 90% by weight to obtain a water-containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether having a water content of 55 to 90% by weight; cooling the water-containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether; and drying and pulverizing the cooled water-containing water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether.

A process for producing a crosslinked cellulose ether including contacting an activated cellulose material with (i) an aqueous crosslinking agent emulsion, wherein the aqueous crosslinking agent emulsion is a mixture of (ia) at least one crosslinking agent; (ib) water; and (ic) any other optional components desired; and (ii) at least one etherification reagent; wherein the aqueous crosslinking agent emulsion (i) and the at least one etherification reagent (ii) react with the activated cellulose material to form the crosslinked cellulose ether; and a crosslinked cellulose ether produced by the above process.

A process for producing a crosslinked cellulose ether including the steps of: (a) contacting at least one cellulose material with at least one alkalization reagent to form an activated cellulose material; (b) contacting the activated cellulose material of step (a) with at least one etherification reagent to form an uncrosslinked cellulose ether; (c) subjecting the cellulose ether of step (b) to a simultaneous or stepwise washing and/or granulating step; (d) adding at least one crosslinking agent to the uncrosslinked cellulose ether during the washing and/or granulating of step (c) to form a crosslinked cellulose ether; and (e) any other optional components desired; and a crosslinked cellulose ether produced by the above process.

A process for producing a crosslinked cellulose ether including the steps of: (a) contacting at least one cellulose material with at least one alkalization reagent to form an activated cellulose material; (b) contacting the activated cellulose material of step (a) with at least one etherification reagent to form an uncrosslinked cellulose ether; (c) subjecting the cellulose ether of step (b) to a simultaneous or stepwise washing and/or granulating step; (d) adding at least one crosslinking agent to the uncrosslinked cellulose ether during the washing and/or granulating of step (c) to form a crosslinked cellulose ether; and (e) any other optional components desired; and a crosslinked cellulose ether produced by the above process.

The present disclosure provides methods of preparing cellulosic superabsorbent polymer (SAP) using cellulose powder.