Water-soluble hydroxypropyl sulfoethyl cellulose derivatives (hpsec) having a low degree of substitution and a process for their production

Claim 2

Water-soluble hydroxypropyl sulfoethyl cellulose derivatives having a molar degree of substitution MS with hydroxypropyl groups of less than 2 and an average degree of substitution DS with sulfoethyl groups and optionally other substituents of less than 0.3 and a viscosity of 5 to 80,000 (mPa.s), as measured on a 2%, by weight aqueous solution at a shear rate D of 2.5 sec. -1 and at a temperature of 20° C., said optional other substituents being selected from the group consisting of hydroxybutyl, hydroxy styryl, alkyl, aralkyl and 2-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl.

Claim 3

A process for the production of the water-soluble hydroxyporpyl sulfoethyl cellulose derivatives claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: (a) alkalization of the cellulose by reaction of cellulose with alkali, (b) etherification of the alkali cellulose with at least one of a sulfoalkylating agent and a compound transferring hydroxypropyl groups in the presence of a base, (c) optionally further etherification with at least one etherifying agent which requires an at least catalytic quantity of base for reaction with the cellulose and (d) optionally neutralization, optionally filtration and optionally washing out of the salts remaining in the product or the quantity of base present in the reactor.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that propylene oxide and vinyl sulfonic acid or Na vinyl sulfonate is used in step (6).

Claim 5

A process as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the additional etherification step if carried out with at least one of epoxides, alkyl or aralkyl halides and reagents capable of transferring 3-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl groups.