To obtain a water-absorbing cellulose material high in substitution degree and excellent in water-absorbing ability for both pure water and ionic aqueous solution such as urine or saline solution.
A cellulose-contg. material is first impregnated with an aqueous reaction liquid composed of a carboxyalkylating agent, an alkali metal hydroxide and water followed by partly evaporating the water to make an adjustment so that the proportion of the water in the aqueous reaction liquid impregnated come to 20-60wt.% based on the whole weight of the liquid and also run at least 5wt.% lower than that prior to the evaporation, and the resultant cellulose material is uniformly impregnated with a crosslinking-contg. organic solvent followed by heating to effect the carboxyalkylation and crosslinking of the cellulose simultaneously, thus obtaining the objective crosslinked carboxyalkyl cellulose as a water-absorbing cellulose material. The organic solvent is a 2-4C monohydric alcohol, and the carboxyalkyl group substitution degree of the cellulose material. is 0.70-0.80.
TAJIRI KOZO
MIYOSHI TOMOJI
