The invention relates to a method for the production of cellulose ethers,
whereby cellulose ethers having free hydroxyl groups are reacted with
dicarboxylic and/or polycarboxylic acids and a nitrogen-containing
compound. The process further comprises intensively mixing essentially
dry, pulverulent cellulose ether with a mixture of organic bifunctional
and/or polyfunctional acid and nitrogen-containing compound in a
non-nucleophilic organic solvent prior to reacting the cellulose ether to
provide the modified cellulose ether which can be stirred into water at a
pH greater than or equal to 11 without agglutination.
