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 bucket conveyor type contactor to generate a contact mixture, and draining the contact mixture; a method for preparing a cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose thus prepared; and an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose comprising a bucket conveyor contactor comprising at least one inlet port for introducing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution at one end and at least one outlet port for discharging a contact mixture wherein the pulp and the alkali metal hydroxide solution can be moved from one end to the other end while bringing them into contact with each other to generate the contact mixture; and a drainer for separating a cake from the contact mixture discharged from the outlet port.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.