Process for the continuous manufacture of cellulose glycolate

Claim 1

In the process for the continuous manufacture of cellulose glycolate, in which an etherification mixture, initially containing alkali cellulose formed from finely comminuted cellulose and sodium hydroxide solution, sodium chloroacetate and water is conveyed through a reaction zone having a constant temperature of at least 60° C and when said zone has more than one section, a constant temperature in each section, in a manner such that the residence time of the etherification mixture in the reaction zone is sufficient to cause the sodium chloroacetate initially contained in the mixture to react, and in which the etherification mixture is also thoroughly mixed by the application of shearing forces; the improvement comprising that the etherification mixture initially comprises 1part by weight of cellulose 0.2 to 0.6 part by weight of sodium hydroxide 0.5 to 1.75 part by weight of sodium monochloroacetate 7 to 22 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol (100%) and water corresponding to between 20% and 50% by weight of the isopropyl alcohol, maintaining the constant temperature of the etherification mixture in the reaction zone in the range of 60° to 90° C, exerting the shearing forces on the etherification mixture before it enters the reaction zone and at a temperature below 30° C, by homogenizing by means of a homogenizer, the residence time of the etherification mixture in the homogenizing zone being less than 1/10 of its residence time in the reaction zone, and, after etherification has terminated, separating the fluid components from the solid components of the etherification mixture by mechanical means.