PURPOSE: To produce a low-mol.-wt. polysaccharide ether which can be used in binders for improving adhesive power and film-forming properties by subjecting a relatively high-mol.-wt. polysaccharide ether to oxidative degradation.

CONSTITUTION: The low-mol.-wt. polysaccharide ether is produced by initially introducing a relatively high-mol.-wt. polysaccharide ether in suspension (e. g. in a slurry), adding a perborate or its mixture with a perborate activator, and carrying out the oxidative degradation at between 25°C and 90°C. Thus obtd. low-mol.-wt. polysaccharide ether can completely or at least partly avoid the occurrence of an explosive atmosphere or the additional introduction of water.