Process for the removal of alkali metal halides from cellulose ethers soluble in cold water and use of the purified products in washing and cleansing agent compositions

In the process of preparing a powdered washing agent comprising surface-active agents, builders, soil suspension agents, and cold-water-soluble cellulose ethers, comprising the steps of preparing an aqueous slurry of the ingredients, spray-drying the slurry at temperatures below 100.degree. C. and recovering a powdered washing agent, the improvement comprising adding the cellulose ether component to said aqueous slurry as an aqueous suspension of a cold-water-soluble cellulose ether substantially freed of alkali metal halides, where said cellulose ethers are selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, mixed methyl/ethyl cellulose, mixed ethyl/hydroxyethyl cellulose, mixed ethyl/hydroxypropyl cellulose and mixed ethyl/dihydroxypropyl cellulose, in an aqueous salt solution containing from 4% to 15% by weight of alkali metal or ammonium sulfates, phosphates, silicates and/or carbonates, said suspension having a total solids content of from 8% to 20% by weight, as said cold-water-soluble cellulose ether, wherein said aqueous suspension of a cold-water-soluble cellulose ether in an aqueous salt solution is prepared by a process consisting essentially of suspending a cold-water-soluble cellulose ether crude reaction product containing 25% by weight or more of alkali metal halides, based on the dry weight, where said cellulose ethers are selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, mixed methyl/ethyl cellulose, mixed ethyl/hydroxyethyl cellulose, mixed ethyl/hydroxypropyl cellulose and mixed ethyl/dihydroxypropyl cellulose, in an aqueous solution containing from 4% to about 25% by weight of one or more water-soluble salts selected from the group consisting of alkali metal or ammonium sulfates, phosphates, silicates and/or carbonates, with agitation at a temperature of from 10.degree. C. to 50.degree. C., separating the purified cellulose ether solids and repeating the suspending and separating steps zero, one or more times, then suspending said purified cellulose ether solids in an aqueous solution containing from 4% to 15% by weight of said one or more water-soluble salts in an amount sufficient to give a suspension having a total solids content of from 8% to 20% by weight.