Regarding coating of fine particles or the like, provided are a coating composition containing methyl cellulose having small adhesiveness, resistance to generation of lumps, ability to form uniform coating, and ability to form a coating composition easily with water of normal temperature; a method for producing the coating composition; and a solid preparation. More specifically provided are a coating composition including methyl cellulose having such a viscosity that a viscosity at 20° C. of a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the methyl cellulose is 1 to 15 mPa.Math.s and having such a dissolution start temperature that a dissolution start temperature of a 12% by weight aqueous liquid of the methyl cellulose is 10 to 25° C. and a solvent; a solid preparation obtained by coating of the coating composition; and the like.

Regarding coating of fine particles or the like, provided are a coating composition containing methyl cellulose having small adhesiveness, resistance to generation of lumps, ability to form uniform coating, and ability to form a coating composition easily with water of normal temperature; a method for producing the coating composition; and a solid preparation. More specifically provided are a coating composition including methyl cellulose having such a viscosity that a viscosity at 20° C. of a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the methyl cellulose is 1 to 15 mPa.Math.s and having such a dissolution start temperature that a dissolution start temperature of a 12% by weight aqueous liquid of the methyl cellulose is 10 to 25° C. and a solvent; a solid preparation obtained by coating of the coating composition; and the like.

Provided is a volatile composition having a small difference in volatilization amounts of a volatile substance within a wide temperature range from the normal temperature and enabling the control of the volatilization amount even at a high temperature by suppressing the volatilization amount of the volatile substance and by increasing the gel strength of the volatile composition. Specifically provided is a volatile composition having an alkyl cellulose having such a viscosity that a viscosity at 20° C. of a 1% by weight aqueous solution of the alkyl cellulose is 4,000 to 11,000 mPa.Math.s as determined by a Brookfield viscometer and having such a storage elastic modulus that a storage elastic modulus G′(65° C.) at 65° C. of a 1.5% by weight aqueous solution of the alkyl cellulose is 3,000 to 4,500 Pa; a volatile substance; and a solvent.

Provided is a volatile composition having a small difference in volatilization amounts of a volatile substance within a wide temperature range from the normal temperature and enabling the control of the volatilization amount even at a high temperature by suppressing the volatilization amount of the volatile substance and by increasing the gel strength of the volatile composition. Specifically provided is a volatile composition having an alkyl cellulose having such a viscosity that a viscosity at 20° C. of a 1% by weight aqueous solution of the alkyl cellulose is 4,000 to 11,000 mPa.Math.s as determined by a Brookfield viscometer and having such a storage elastic modulus that a storage elastic modulus G′(65° C.) at 65° C. of a 1.5% by weight aqueous solution of the alkyl cellulose is 3,000 to 4,500 Pa; a volatile substance; and a solvent.

Provided are a solid preparation comprising an alkyl cellulose which provides excellent moldability and disintegrability even in a small amount of the alkyl cellulose, and a production method therefor. Specifically, provided are a solid preparation having an alkyl cellulose having a specific surface area by BET method of 0.5 to 10.0 m.sup.2/g and a dissolution start temperature of 5 to 27° C.; and a method for producing a solid preparation having the steps of: mixing a cellulose pulp and a first alkali metal hydroxide solution with stirring to obtain alkali cellulose, reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent to obtain a first reaction mixture, mixing the first reaction mixture and a second alkali metal hydroxide solution with stirring and without further addition of any alkylating agent to obtain a second reaction mixture, and pulverizing an alkyl cellulose isolated from the second reaction mixture to obtain an alkyl cellulose.

Provided are a solid preparation comprising an alkyl cellulose which provides excellent moldability and disintegrability even in a small amount of the alkyl cellulose, and a production method therefor. Specifically, provided are a solid preparation having an alkyl cellulose having a specific surface area by BET method of 0.5 to 10.0 m.sup.2/g and a dissolution start temperature of 5 to 27° C.; and a method for producing a solid preparation having the steps of: mixing a cellulose pulp and a first alkali metal hydroxide solution with stirring to obtain alkali cellulose, reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent to obtain a first reaction mixture, mixing the first reaction mixture and a second alkali metal hydroxide solution with stirring and without further addition of any alkylating agent to obtain a second reaction mixture, and pulverizing an alkyl cellulose isolated from the second reaction mixture to obtain an alkyl cellulose.

Provided is a novel cyclic oligosaccharide derived from cellulose. The cyclic oligosaccharide is a cyclic oligosaccharide of Formula (1) having a β-1,4 glucosidic bond. In the formula, R represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent thereof, a plurality of the Rs may be identical or different, and n represents an integer of 0 to 3.

A method for producing a cellulose ether having a high viscosity while keeping the same degree of polymerization as that in the production of a shaped pulp without changing a raw material or production facility. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a cellulose ether including steps of: cutting or pulverizing pulp to obtain sheet-like, chip-like, or powdery cellulose pulp, wherein the pulp is formed in a form of roll whose surface layer on at least one of the circumferential side and the ends is removed, or in a form of bale whose surface layer on at least one side is removed; bringing the obtained cellulose pulp into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain alkali cellulose; reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent to obtain a reaction product mixture; and subjecting the reaction product mixture to purification to obtain the cellulose ether.

A method for producing a cellulose ether having a high viscosity while keeping the same degree of polymerization as that in the production of a shaped pulp without changing a raw material or production facility. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a cellulose ether including steps of: cutting or pulverizing pulp to obtain sheet-like, chip-like, or powdery cellulose pulp, wherein the pulp is formed in a form of roll whose surface layer on at least one of the circumferential side and the ends is removed, or in a form of bale whose surface layer on at least one side is removed; bringing the obtained cellulose pulp into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain alkali cellulose; reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent to obtain a reaction product mixture; and subjecting the reaction product mixture to purification to obtain the cellulose ether.

Pulps, cellulose ether products, and methods of making pulps are described.