Processing methyl cellulose and the products thereof

Claim 1

A PROCESS OF TREATING METHYLCELLULOSE WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING THE METHYLCELLULOSE TO THE ACTION OF AN EVAPORATABLE, ORGANIC, LIQUID, SWELLING AGENT THEREFOR, THEREBY DIVIDING THE OPENING UP ITS FIBERS AND FIBRILS; MIXING WITH THE METHYLCELLULOSE AND SWELLING AGENT A LIQUID MATERIAL HAVING A BOILING POINT ABOUT 15* C. TO ABOUT 20* C. ABOVE THAT OF THE SWELLING AGENT AND WHICH IS SOLUBLE IN THE SWELLING AGENT BUT WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY A NONSOLVENT FOR THE METHYLCELLULOSE, THEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY REPLACING WITH THE LIQUID MATERIAL THE ORGANIC SWELLING AGENT PRESENT IN THE INNER STRUCTURE OF THE METHYLCELLULOSE MASS; ADDING A MEDICAMENT WHILE THE SAID METHYLCELLULOSE IS PRESENT IN AT LEAST SAID ORGANIC LIQUID AND WHILE THE FIBERS AND FIBRILS ARE DIVIDED AND OPENED; AND THEREAFTER CONSECUTIVELY REMOVING THE SWELLING AGENT THE LIQUID MATERIAL FROM THE METHYLCELLULOSE, THEREBY OBTAINING AS A SOLID RESIDUE A FLUFFY, POROUS, METHYLCELLULOSE PRODUCT, THE FIBERS AND FIBRILS OF WHICH ARE MAINTAINED IN A DIVIDED AND OPENED CONDITION AND CONTAINING A MEDICAMENT.