A water-soluble methyl cellulose ether, having a flocculation point below
100.degree. C., is manufactured by reacting methyl chloride and a
cellulose activated by mercerising the cellulose with aqueous alkali in
the presence of a C.sub.2-C.sub.3 alkyl chloride as a reaction medium at
a temperature from 65.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. and at a pressure from
3 to 15 bar. The weight ratio between the cellulose and the
C.sub.2-C.sub.3 alkyl chloride is normally from 1:1 to 1:5. The use of
the reaction medium makes it possible to produce at a low pressure methyl
cellulose ether at a good rate.
