Liquid composition comprising hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and organic solvent

A method for producing hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, the method comprising steps of:

• bringing pulp into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain alkali cellulose;
• mixing the alkali cellulose with dimethyl ether and a first methylating agent to form a first reaction product mixture;
• mixing the first reaction product mixture with a second methylating agent and a hydroxypropylating agent without further incorporation of an alkali metal hydroxide to obtain a second reaction product mixture;
• purifying the second reaction product mixture to obtain hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose;
• drying the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose to obtain dried hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose;
• wherein a reaction percentage of the hydroxypropylating agent is from 50% to 90% at the time when a total reaction percentage of the first and second methylating agents is 50%, regarding a reaction percentage of the hydroxypropylating agent and a total reaction percentage of the first and second methylating agents as respective 100% at the time when a degree of substitution (DS) of methoxy groups and a molar substitution (MS) of hydroxypropoxy groups of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose in the second reaction product mixture become equal to a degree of substitution (DS) of methoxy groups and a molar substitution (MS) of hydroxypropoxy groups of the dried hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, respectively.