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US 8,569,479 B2Granted
Process for reducing the average molecular weight of cellulose ethers
AssigneeDow Global Technologies LLC
InventorCharles B. Mallon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for reducing the average molecular weight of a cellulose ether comprises the step of contacting a cellulose ether with an acid to partially depolymerize it to a lower molecular weight in a diluent comprising at least 50 weight percent of an organic hydroxylic compound having at least one hydroxy group and at least two carbon atoms.
Claims11
A process for reducing the average molecular weight of a cellulose ether comprising the steps of:
- forming a slurry with a cellulose ether and a diluent, and
- contacting the cellulose ether with an acid to partially depolymerize it to a lower molecular weight, said diluent comprising at least 75 weight percent of an organic hydroxylic compound having at least one hydroxy group and at least two carbon atoms,
- provided that the weight ratio between the diluent and the cellulose ether in the slurry is from 10:1 to 1:1.
A process for reducing the average molecular weight of ethylcellulose comprising the steps of:
- dissolving an ethylcellulose in a diluent, and
- contacting the ethylcellulose with an acid to partially depolymerize it to a lower molecular weight, said diluent comprising at least 75 weight percent of an organic hydroxylic compound selected from propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, or cyclic alcohols having up to 8 carbon atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.