Described is a process of preparing alkylhydroxyalkyl
cellulose, e.g., methylhydroxypropyl
cellulose (MHPC). The process includes: (a) alkylating
cellulose with an aqueous caustic solution containing from 1.5 to 5.5 equivalents of
alkali metal hydroxide, e.g., NaOH, per anhydroglucose unit (AGU) of said cellulose, in the presence of a suspension agent, e.g.,
dimethyl ether, which contains
alkyl halide, e.g., methyl
chloride, in an amount of from (equivalents of
alkali metal hydroxide per AGU minus 1.4) to (equivalents of
alkali metal hydroxide per AGU plus 0.8); (b) reacting the alkalised cellulose of step (a) with one or more alkylene oxides, e.g.,
propylene oxide, at a temperature higher than 65° C., e.g., 85° C.; (c) adding
alkyl halide, to the product of step (b), in an amount of at least the difference between (i) the equivalents of
alkyl halide per AGU in step a) and (ii) the equivalents of alkali
metal hydroxide added per AGU in step (a), provided that the amount of additionally added alkyl halide is at least 0.2 equivalents per AGU; and (d) isolating alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose from the reaction mixture of step (c). Optionally the isolated alkylhydroxyalkyl cellulose may be purified.