Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC

Romuald S Krzywanski

Othman A Hamed

The present invention is directed to a novel polyalkylene glycol based reagent with aldehyde end groups, wherein the preparation of the reagent includes the steps of provide a polyalkylene glycol; provide an aldehyde compound; mix both reagents polyalkylene glycol and aldehyde in 1:2 equivalent; stir the mixture for a certain period of time until a clear solution is obtained, and dilute with water to a desirable concentration.

Polyalkylene glycol based reagent with aldehyde end groups suitable for making cellulosic fibers with modified morphology

A method for making a specialty fiber by activating pulp in an alkaline aqueous medium, then reacting it a water-soluble, multi-functional reagent able to bridge neighboring cellulose chain within a single fiber. The resultant specialty cellulose fibers have high intrinsic viscosity and may be used to make cellulose ethers, cellulose acetate, and viscose.

Specialty pulp with high intrinsic viscosity

The present invention relates to specialty pulp products produced using bifunctional reagents composed of polymeric chain and end caps. The polymeric chain is preferably a polyalkylene glycol based polymer and the end caps are preferably a cationic quaternary ammonium. The bifunctional reagents are especially useful in making specialty fluff with dual functional properties&#x2014;easy defiberization and antimicrobial properties. The specialty fluff of the present invention prevents odor by inhibiting bacteria growth and production of organic matters, especially when used in an absorbent article intended for body waste management such as baby diapers and adult incontinence device.

Cellulosic material with antimicrobial and defiberization properties

A process for making a hydrogel forming material from a kraft or sulfite pulping process cellulosic pulp slurry by extracting hemicellulose heteropolymers from the cellulosic pulp slurry as a hemicaustic extract by treating the cellulosic pulp slurry with a cold caustic solution, then isolating the hemicaustic extract and preparing a mixture of the hemicellulose extract and a derivatizing agent comprised of a monofunctional etherifying agent and/or a polyfunctional organic cross-linking agent, and reacting the mixture to produce the hydrogel forming material. A polyvalent metal cross-linking agent can optionally be reacted with the hydrogel forming material to enhance its gel strength.

Process for making hydrogels from hemicaustic byproduct

A process for making a hydrogel forming material from an unbleached cellulose pulp comprised of isolating pulp fines from the cellulose pulp by screening and/or dissolved air filtration, reacting the isolated pulp fines with alkaline hydroxide to form an alkali cellulose composition, preparing a heterogeneous mixture of the alkali cellulose composition and an etherifying agent, and optionally organic cross-linking agent, and reacting the components of the mixture to produce a hydrogel forming material. A polyvalent metal cross-linking agent can optionally be reacted with the hydrogel forming material to enhance its gel strength.

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Richmond Hill, GA, United States of America

Romuald S Krzywanski