Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A process for preparing a water-soluble mixed cellulose ether which comprises the following steps: (a) alkalizing cellulose in a reaction medium containing water and base to produce an alkali cellulose, (b) etherifying the resulting alkali cellulose, in a reaction medium containing water and base, with at least one etherifying agent which requires a catalytic and sub-stoichiometric quantity of base for reaction with cellulose, (c) increasing the quantity of base, (d) further etherifying the cellulose ether, obtained from step (b) and combined with additional base in step (c), in a water-containing reaction medium with at least one etherifying agent which requires, for reaction with cellulose: (i) an at least stoichiometric quantity of base or (ii) a catalytic and sub-stoichiometric quantity of base which is in excess of that used in step (a); at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethoxyethane, alkanol, alkanediol and alkoxyalkanol being a dispersing auxiliary in at least one of steps (a), (b) and (d).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A process for preparing a water-soluble mixed cellulose ether which comprises the following steps: (a) alkalizing cellulose in a reaction medium containing water and base to produce an alkali cellulose, (b) etherifying the resulting alkali cellulose, in a reaction medium containing water and base, with at least one etherifying agent which requires a catalytic and sub-stoichiometric quantity of base for reaction with cellulose, (c) increasing the quantity of base, (d) further etherifying the cellulose ether, obtained from step (b) and combined with additional base in step (c), in a water-containing reaction medium with at least one etherifying agent which requires, for reaction with cellulose: (i) an at least stoichiometric quantity of base or (ii) a catalytic and sub-stoichiometric quantity of base which is in excess of that used in step (a); at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethoxyethane, alkanol, alkanediol and alkoxyalkanol being a dispersing auxiliary in at least one of steps (a), (b) and (d).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein each etherifying agent for step (b) is a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein each of R 2 and R 3 is, independently, a hydrogen atom (H) or alkyl having from 1 to 13 carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein each etherifying agent for step (d i ) is a compound of the formula Hal--R.sup.1 in which R 1 is C 1-15 alkyl, C 7-15 aralkyl, carboxy(C 1-3 alkyl), sulfono(C 1-3 alkyl), phosphono(C 1-3 alkyl), C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl or N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl in which each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and Hal is chloro or bromo.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein each etherifying agent for step (d i ) is a compound of the formula Hal--R.sup.1 in which R 1 is C 1-15 alkyl, C 7-15 aralkyl, carboxy(C 1-3 alkyl), sulfono(C 1-3 alkyl), phosphono(C 1-3 alkyl), C 1-6 hydroxyalkyl or N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl in which each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and Hal is chloro or bromo.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alkanol has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the alkanediol has 2 or 3 carbon atoms and the alkoxyalkanol is a (C 1-4 alkoxy)(C 2 or 3 alkanol).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the alkanol has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the alkanediol has 2 or 3 carbon atoms and the alkoxyalkanol is a (C 1-4 alkoxy)(C 2 or 3 alkanol).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the alkanol has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the alkanediol has 2 or 3 carbon atoms and the alkoxyalkanol is a (C 1-4 alkoxy)(C 2 or 3 alkanol).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the alkanol has from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the alkanediol has 2 or 3 carbon atoms and the alkoxyalkanol is a (C 1-4 alkoxy)(C 2 or 3 alkanol).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the etherifying agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the etherifying agent for step (d i ) comprises a member selected from the group consisting of methyl chloride, monochloracetic acid, a salt of monochloroacetic acid and a hydrolyzable derivative of monochloroacetic acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the etherifying agent for step (d i ) comprises a member selected from the group consisting of methyl chloride, monochloroacetic acid, a salt of monochloroacetic acid and a hydrolyzable derivative of monochloroacetic acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the reaction medium for each of steps (b) and (d) comprises organic solvent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process as claimed in one of claims 2 to 11 wherein the reaction medium for step (b) comprises organic solvent and wherein the organic solvent, together with each other reaction mixture component which has a boiling point below that of water, is removed from the reaction mixture by distillation prior to step (d).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reaction medium for step (b) comprises organic solvent and wherein the organic solvent, together with each other reaction-mixture component which has a boiling point below that of water, is removed from the reaction mixture by distillation prior to step (d).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the reaction medium for step (a) comprises organic solvent.