US 11,725,339 B2
Reduced furfural content in polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulose fibers
Angel Stoyanov, Federal Way, WA (US); Joerg Endres, Schwalbach (DE); Holger Beruda, Schwalbach (DE); and Ludwig Busam, Schwalbach (DE)
Assigned to INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, Memphis, TN (US)
Filed by International Paper Company, Memphis, TN (US)
Filed on Feb. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/788,165.
Application 16/788,165 is a continuation of application No. 15/829,745, filed on Dec. 1, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/829,745 is a continuation of application No. 14/271,146, filed on May 6, 2014, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2020/0181840 A1, Jun. 11, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. D21C 9/16 (2006.01); D21C 9/00 (2006.01); D21H 17/38 (2006.01); B01J 20/26 (2006.01)
CPC D21C 9/163 (2013.01) [B01J 20/26 (2013.01); D21C 9/005 (2013.01); D21H 17/38 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
 
1. A method of reducing the furfural content of polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers, the method comprising:
treating the polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers with hydrogen peroxide alone in the absence of sodium hydroxide, in a bleaching stage subsequent to a curing stage, to polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers, in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 20 pounds (about 0.045 to about 9.07 kg) per ADMT of fiber and at a hydrogen peroxide pH of between about 4.5 and about 5, wherein the hydrogen peroxide is applied to the polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers immediately after curing to form treated crosslinked fibers,
baling the treated crosslinked cellulosic fibers before cooling from the curing process,
measuring the furfural content of the treated crosslinked fibers, and
wherein the amount of furfural in the treated crosslinked fibers reduces from a first value determined at one day after the treatment of the crosslinked fibers to a second, subsequent value determined at 12 days, 14 days, or 21 days after treatment.
 
16. A method of producing an absorbent article comprising:
producing treated polyacrylic acid crosslinked fibers by performing the method of claim 1 and incorporating the treated polyacrylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers into an absorbent article selected from the group consisting of a diaper, an incontinence product, a feminine care product, a wipe, a towel, a tissue, and a paper board.