Cellulose ethers and method of preparing the same
US6686464B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC D)Textiles; Paper
- CPC primaryD21C9/002
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present inventors have discovered that the solution rheology of cellulose ethers prepared from cellulose pulp is altered by mercerizing and recovering cellulose pulp before preparing the cellulose ethers. For example, the solution viscosity of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) produced from mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp is significantly greater than that produced from non-mercerized cellulose pulp. The present invention provides a method of preparing cellulose ethers comprising the steps of (a) obtaining mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp, and (b) converting the mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp into the cellulose ethers. The mercerized cellulose pulp is typically substantially free of cellulose III. Mercerized cellulose pulp prepared by this method has a greater percentage of crystalline cellulose II and a smaller crystalline area than that of non-mercerized cellulose pulp. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a cellulose floc comprising the steps of (a) obtaining mercerized and recovered cellulose pulp, and (b) treating the mercerized pulp to form the cellulose floc. Alternatively, the method comprises mercerizing and recovering a cellulo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.