The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an alkyl polyglycoside comprising the step of mechanically treating a polysaccharide in the presence of an acid and a hydrophobic alcohol. The invention further relates to an alkyl polyglycoside obtainable by said process.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an alkyl polyglycoside comprising the step of mechanically treating a polysaccharide in the presence of an acid and a hydrophobic alcohol. The invention further relates to an alkyl polyglycoside obtainable by said process.

Provided is a process for reducing the size of ethylcellulose polymer particles comprising (a) providing a slurry comprising (i) water (ii) said ethylcellulose particles, wherein said ethylcellulose polymer particles have D50 of 100 μm or less; (iii) surfactant comprising 1.2% or more anionic surfactants by weight based on the solid weight of said slurry, with the proviso that if the amount of anionic surfactant is 2.5% or less by weight based on the solid weight of said slurry, then said surfactant further comprises 5% or more stabilizers by weight based on the solid weight of said slurry, wherein said stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble polymers, water-soluble fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. (b) grinding said slurry in an agitated media mill having a collection of media particles having a median particle size of 550 μm or smaller.

Also provided is a dispersion made by such a process.

Provided is a process for reducing the size of ethylcellulose polymer particles comprising (a) providing a slurry comprising (i) water (ii) said ethylcellulose particles, wherein said ethylcellulose polymer particles have D50 of 100 μm or less; (iii) surfactant comprising 1.2% or more anionic surfactants by weight based on the solid weight of said slurry, with the proviso that if the amount of anionic surfactant is 2.5% or less by weight based on the solid weight of said slurry, then said surfactant further comprises 5% or more stabilizers by weight based on the solid weight of said slurry, wherein said stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble polymers, water-soluble fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof. (b) grinding said slurry in an agitated media mill having a collection of media particles having a median particle size of 550 μm or smaller.

Also provided is a dispersion made by such a process.

A process for producing a water-soluble cellulose derivative of a reduced content of water-insoluble particles comprises the steps of a) reacting cellulose with an alkaline material to produce alkali cellulose, b) reacting the produced alkali cellulose with one or more derivatizing agents to produce a water-soluble cellulose derivative, c) washing the produced cellulose derivative with an aqueous liquid once or several times to provide a moist cellulose derivative having a water content of 25 to 85 percent, based on the total weight of the moist cellulose derivative, d) subjecting the moist cellulose derivative to homogenization to form the moist cellulose derivative to a paste, and e) pressing the paste through a filter of a pore size of up to 200 μm.

A process for producing a water-soluble cellulose derivative of a reduced content of water-insoluble particles comprises the steps of a) reacting cellulose with an alkaline material to produce alkali cellulose, b) reacting the produced alkali cellulose with one or more derivatizing agents to produce a water-soluble cellulose derivative, c) washing the produced cellulose derivative with an aqueous liquid once or several times to provide a moist cellulose derivative having a water content of 25 to 85 percent, based on the total weight of the moist cellulose derivative, d) subjecting the moist cellulose derivative to homogenization to form the moist cellulose derivative to a paste, and e) pressing the paste through a filter of a pore size of up to 200 μm.

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.

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.

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.