Process for the production of water-adsorbing cellulose ethers

In the process for the production of water-adsorbing, but at least partially water-insoluble cellulose ethers in which cellulose is alkalized in a liquid reaction medium and etherified in a manner such that by etherification only an at least largely water-soluble carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose or methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is produced, and in which the cellulose is reacted in an alkaline reaction medium before, during, or after the etherification with a modification agent reactive with the still free hydroxyl groups of the cellulose anhydro glucose groups, said modification agent having one of the formulae ##STR3## in which R.sub.1 is hydroxyl, an acylamino or esterified carbamino group, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, or a carboxyl group,

• the improvement comprising effecting alkalization, etherification, and modification in a liquid reaction medium selected from the group consisting of the organic solvents dioxane, methyl ethyl ketone, ethanol, acetone and tertiary butyl alcohol, and the solvent water.