Patent ID: 7361753

Claim:
A process for preparing an alkylated, nonionic cellulose ether product comprising: a) activating cellulose by alkalization in the presence of water, base and organic dispersing auxiliary to provide activated cellulose in a reaction mixture by adding at least one surfactant to the reaction mixture, such that the at least one surfactant is added to the reaction mixture prior to addition or the base into the reaction mixture; b) etherifying the activated cellulose using an etherifying agent by a Williamson ether synthesis to provide etherified cellulose; and, c) purifying the etherified cellulose by washing with water at a temperature above the coagulation point of the etherified cellulose to remove reaction by-products and salts to provide said cellulose ether product; wherein at least 10% of all hydroxyl groups are alkylated, and which cellulose ether product is coagulable in water in a temperature range of from 45 to 95° C.