Methods for preparing alkali cellulose and cellulose ether

Abstract

The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a pipe type contactor to generate a contact mixture and draining the contact mixture; a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose; and an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising a pipe type contactor having at least one inlet port at one end thereof for introducing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution, and an outlet port at the other end for discharging a contact mixture, wherein the pulp and the alkali metal hydroxide solution are moved from one end to the other end while bringing them into contact with each other, and a drainer for separating a cake from the contact mixture discharged from the contactor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.