Process for the production of water-insoluble fibers of cellulose monoesters of maleic acid, succinic acid and phthalic acid, having an extremely high absorbability for water and physiological liquids

Process for the production of water-insoluble fibers of cellulose monoesters of maleic acid, succinic acid or phthalic acid having an extremely high absorption ability of water and physiological liquids, comprising, in order:

• (a) preparing a solution of activated cellulose in dimethylacetamide or 1-methyl-3-pyrrolidon,
• (b) reacting the so-dissolved cellulose while extensively maintaining average degree of polymerization of 300-800, with a dicarboxylic acid anhydride in a mol ratio from 1 :
• 0.20 up to 1 :
• 4 at 20.degree. to 120.degree. C. and in the presence of a known esterification catalyst, over a period from 5 minutes to 20 hours to obtain a degree of esterification,
• (c) spinning the obtained cellulose monoester solution by means of wet spinning into a coagulation agent to form water-insoluble fibers of cellulose monoesters of maleic acid, succinic acid, or phthalic acid, and converting said fibers partially or completely into corresponding fiber-shaped salts of the cellulose monoesters of phthalic acid, maleic acid, or succinic acid in a substantially organic solvent by reaction with alkali metal hydroxide and/or alkali metal alcoholate or ammonia or primary or secondary amine.