Process for reducing the average molecular weight of cellulose ethers

1. 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.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the organic hydroxylic compound is an aliphatic non-cyclic alcohol of 2 to 8 carbon atoms.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the diluent comprises at least 90 percent of the organic hydroxylic compound.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the cellulose ether is methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxybutyl methylcellulose, ethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein a reduction in viscosity of the cellulose ether of at least 50 percent is achieved, based on its viscosity prior to the partial depolymerization step.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein the diluent in the slurry of the cellulose ether is isopropyl alcohol.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the cellulose ether is ethylcellulose.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein ethylcellulose having a viscosity of from 4 to 400 mPa·s, measured as a 5 weight percent solution at 25° C. in a mixture of 80 volume percent toluene and 20 volume percent ethanol, is partially depolymerized to an ethylcellulose having a viscosity of from 1.0 to 10 mPa·s, with the proviso that the viscosity of the ethylcellulose is reduced at least 20 percent, based on its viscosity prior to the partial depolymerization step.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein ethylcellulose is dissolved in ethanol or isopropanol, partially depolymerized with an acid and recovered from the solution by adding water.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the cellulose ether is contacted with the acid in the diluent under an atmosphere of an inert gas.

11. 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.