Patent Description:
A fluff pulp and a process for preparing a fluff pulp according to the present invention are set out in the independent claims. Further advantageous developments of the present invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The following terms are used throughout as defined below.

As used herein and in the appended claims, singular articles such as "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the elements (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claims unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as "up to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into sub-ranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having <NUM>-<NUM> atoms refers to groups having <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> atoms. Similarly, a group having <NUM>-<NUM> atoms refers to groups having <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> atoms, and so forth.

The term "halide" as used herein refers to bromide, chloride, fluoride, or iodide.

Cellulose pulps have been used in a variety of personal care or medical care absorbent products, such as·diaper·fluffor incontinence articles. However, the odor caused by the body fluids is a major concern, such as the ammonia odor from urine in the case of diaper fluff. For other applications, malodorous issues may be caused by other nitrogen-containing or sulfur-containing substances.

The present technology is directed at fluff pulps that exhibit improved odor control as well as methods of generating such advantageous fluffpulps. The fluff pulps exhibit significantly improved odor control, at least in part, by employing surprisingly low amounts of copper. While especially suited to diaper fluff and incontinence articles, the present technology applies to any situation where odor control is beneficial and/or advantageous.

Thus, according to the invention, a fluff pulp is provided that includes a bleached kraft fiber and a copper ion content of at least <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the bleached kraft fiber. The bleached kraft fiber includes a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about <NUM>, a copper number of less than about <NUM>, a carboxyl content of more than about <NUM> meq/<NUM> grams; an ISO brightness of at least <NUM>; and a viscosity from about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) to about <NUM> mPa-s (cps). The fluff pulp may or may not include a super-absorbent polymer (SAP), such as sodium polyacrylate polymers and co-polymers. The kraft fiber may be derived from softwood fiber, hardwood fiber, or a mixture thereof, where such fibers are described in more detail herein. According to the invention, the fluff pulp has a wet pickup of <NUM> to <NUM> grams per <NUM>,<NUM> by <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> inch by <NUM> inch) of sheet area, and ammonia is formed in an amount from <NUM> to <NUM>/l (ppm) in the absence of a super-absorbent polymer.

As described further herein and in addition to other features of the fluff pulp, it was surprisingly found including a copper ion content from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the bleached kraft fiber of copper significantly improved the odor control properties as compared to a fluff pulp that did not contain copper. Indeed, the significant odor control properties would not be expected by a person of ordinary skill in the art from the inclusion of such low copper ion content.

The fluff pulp may have at least <NUM>% greater inhibiting effect on ammonia formation than a second fluff pulp with the same features but absent copper - that is, a fluff pulp of the same makeup except for the fact that no copper ion is included in the fluff pulp. An "inhibiting effect on ammonia formation" is where the fluff pulp exhibits less gaseous ammonia as determined by the tests of Example <NUM> (where no SAP is present) and/or Example <NUM> (where SAP is present) in comparison to a fluff pulp of the same makeup except for the fact that no copper ion is included in the fluff pulp. Without being bound by theory, this inhibiting effect may be from increased absorption of NH<NUM> in the fluff pulp, prevention of conversion of nitrogen-containing compounds to NH<NUM>, or a combination of both. The inhibiting effect may be at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, about <NUM>% greater, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

The copper ions of the copper ion content may be associated with the bleached kraft fiber, and/or may be in the form of a copper (I) salt, a copper (II) salt, hydrates thereof, or a combination of any two or more thereof. Copper (I) salts include, but are not limited to, copper (I) chloride, copper (I) oxide, copper (I) sulfate, or a combination of any two or more thereof. Copper (II) salts include, but are not limited to, copper (II) carbonate, copper (II) chloride, copper (II) phosphate, copper (II) nitrate, copper (II) perchlorate, copper (II) phosphate, copper (II) sulfate, copper (II) tetrafluoroborate, copper (II) triflate, or combinations of any two or more thereof. It may be a non-kraft fiber ligand of copper and/or salts thereof is included in the fluff pulp, where such ligands include but are not limited to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, ethyleneglycol-bis(<NUM>-aminoethyl)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, trans-<NUM>,<NUM>-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. It may be a non-kraft fiber ligand is not included in the fluff pulp. In contrast to a non-kraft fiber ligand, a "kraft fiber ligand" is a moiety or portion of the kraft fiber.

The copper ion content of the fluff pulp as determined by weight of the bleached kraft fiber may be determined by general analytical methods, such as ICP-Atomic Absorption. Thus, this value of the copper ion content refers to the mass amount Cu+<NUM> ions and/or Cu+<NUM> ions themselves as opposed to the total mass amount of the copper salts (e.g., the total mass amount of copper sulfate). As a further example, the mass amount of copper ions in copper sulfate is about <NUM> of the total mass amount of the copper sulfate.

The fluff pulp may or may not also include iron ions. Iron ions associated with the bleached kraft fiber may be in the form of ferrous (Fe<NUM>+) salts, ferric (Fe<NUM>+) salts, hydrates thereof, and combinations of any two or more thereof. Ferrous salts and/or ferric salts include halide, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, carbonate, and combinations of any two or more thereof. Examples include, but are not limited to, ferrous sulfate (for example, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate), ferrous chloride, ferrous ammonium sulfate, ferric chloride, ferric ammonium sulfate, or ferric ammonium citrate. The amount of iron ions (the "iron ion content") in the fluff pulp is at least <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the bleached kraft fiber. The iron content may be determined by general analytical methods, such as ICP-Atomic Absorption.

As discussed previously, the bleached kraft fiber has a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about <NUM>. The bleached kraft fiber may have a length-weighted average fiber length of about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or any range greater than any one of these values, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values. Such length-weighted average fiber length may be determined via a Fiber Quality Analyzer™ from OPTEST, Hawkesbury, Ontario, according to the manufacturer's standard procedures.

The bleached kraft fiber has a copper number of less than about <NUM>. Such copper number may be measured according to TAPPI T430-cm99. The bleached kraft fiber may have a copper number of about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or any range less than any one of these values, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values. The bleached kraft fiber also has a carboxyl content of more than about <NUM> meq/<NUM> grams, where carboxyl content may be measured according to TAPPI T237-cm98. Thus, the carboxyl content (in meq/<NUM> grams) of the bleached kraft fiber may be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two ofthese values. Carboxyl content may be measured according to TAPPI T237-cm98.

The bleached kraft fiber of the fluff pulp has an ISO brightness of at least <NUM>. The ISO brightness may be determined according to TAPPI T525-om02. The ISO brightness of the bleached kraft fiber may be <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values. In any embodiment herein, it may be that the bleached kraft fiber does not include optical brighteners. In any embodiment herein, it may be that the fluff pulp doesnot include optical brighteners.

As previously noted herein, the bleached kraft fiber of the fluff pulp has a viscosity from about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) to about <NUM> mPa-s (cps). The viscosity of the bleached kraft fiber may be determined according to the procedure of TAPPI T230-om99. Thus, the viscosity of the bleached kraft fiber may be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

According to the invention, a process for preparing a fluff pulp comprising bleached kraft fiber comprising a copper content of at least <NUM>/l (ppm) is provided. The process includes treating a lignocellulosic material by adding from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the lignocellulosic material of a catalyst consisting of a combination of copper and/or salts thereof and iron and/or salts thereof in the presence of from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% oxidizing agent by weight of the lignocellulosic material to produce a treated lignocellulosic material. In the process, a weight ratio of iron and iron salts to copper and copper salts is at most about <NUM>:<NUM>. The treated lignocellulosic material has a viscosity from about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) to about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) and has at least <NUM>% greater inhibiting effect on ammonia formation than a second treated lignocellulosic material formed by the same process absent copper. The fluff pulp has a wet pickup of <NUM> to <NUM> grams per <NUM>,<NUM> by <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> inch by <NUM> inch) of sheet area, and ammonia is formed in an amount from <NUM> to <NUM>/l (ppm) in the absence of a super-absorbent polymer.

The lignocellulosic material may preferably be a wood pulp. The lignocellulosic material may be in fibrous and/or particulate form, as for example pulp fibers, fines and/or other pulp fragments, hemicellulose, starch, and/or polysaccharide particles and powders. The lignocellulosic material may also include cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and the like. Useful lignocellulosic materials include, but are not limited to, those derived from known sources of such materials as for example plants. Illustrative of useful lignocellulosic materials are polysaccharides such as starches as described in <CIT>. Illustrative lignocellulosic materials for use in the processes described in any embodiment herein are pulp fibers used in the formation of tissues, towels, diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products and used to make other types of pulp products, paper, and/or paperboard. Such pulp fibers include those derived from hardwood trees, softwood trees, or a combination of hardwood and softwood trees prepared for use in a papermaking furnish by any known suitable digestion, refining, and/or bleaching operations - as, for example, known mechanical, thermo mechanical, chemical and semichemical, etc., pulping and other pulping processes known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The term "hardwood pulps" as used herein refers to fibrous pulp derived from the woody substance of deciduous trees (angiosperms), whereas "softwood pulps'" are fibrous pulps derived from the woody substance of coniferous trees (gymnosperms). Useful pulp fibers may be provided from non-woody herbaceous plants including, but not limited to, kenaf, hemp, jute, flax, sisal, and/or abaca, although legal restrictions and other considerations may make the utilization of hemp and other fiber sources impractical or impossible. Either bleached or unbleached pulp fiber as for example unbleached kraft and bleached kraft pulp (collectively, "lignocellulosic kraft pulp"), and/or recycled pulp may be utilized in any embodiment of the processes described herein. A pulp may have been subjected to any treatment history that is normal in pulping and bleaching or may be intentionally modified, as for example by controlled pre-hydrolysis and/or caustic extraction of chips before kraft pulping, acid and/or enzyme (e.g., cellulases and/or hemicellulases) hydrolysis of kraft pulps, and/or "cold-soda" treatment of pulp (up to mercerizing strength).

"Copper and/or salts thereof" refers to elemental copper (Cu<NUM>), a copper (I) salt, a copper (II) salt, hydrates thereof, or a combination of any two or more thereof. Copper(I) salts include, but are not limited to, copper (I) chloride, copper (I) oxide, copper (I) sulfate, or a combination of any two or more thereof. Copper (II) salts include, but are not limited to, copper (II) carbonate, copper (II) chloride, copper (II) phosphate, copper(II) nitrate, copper (II) perchlorate, copper (II) phosphate, copper (II) sulfate, copper (II) tetrafluoroborate, copper (II) triflate, or combinations of any two or more thereof. In any embodiment herein, the amount of copper and/or salts thereof added may be from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the lignocellulosic material; thus, the amount of copper or salts thereof added may be about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

"Iron and/or salts thereof" refers to elemental iron (Fe<NUM>), ferrous (Fe<NUM>+) salts, ferric (Fe<NUM>+) salts, hydrates thereof, and combinations of any two or more thereof. Preferred salts of ferrous and/or ferric salts include halide, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, carbonate, and combinations of any two or more thereof. Examples include, but are not limited to, ferrous sulfate (forexample, ferrous sulfate heptahydrate), ferrous chloride, ferrous ammonium sulfate, ferric chloride, ferric ammonium sulfate, or ferric ammonium citrate. In any embodiment herein, the amount of iron or salts thereof added may be from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the lignocellulosic material; thus, the amount of iron or salts thereof added may be about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/<NUM> (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

In the process, the weight ratio of iron and iron salts to copper and copper salts is at most about <NUM>:<NUM>. By "at most about <NUM>:<NUM>," the phrase means no greater ratio of iron and iron salts to copper and copper salts is included, such as <NUM>:<NUM>, but does not encompass a range where no iron is included as then there would be no ratio at all. The weight ratio of iron and iron salts to copper and copper salts may be about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>: <NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

The oxidizing agent may include one or more of hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite, and hypochlorous acid. Preferred oxidizing agents include hydrogen peroxide. The amount of oxidizing agent is from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% oxidizing agent by weight of the lignocellulosic material; thus, the amount of oxidizing agent may be about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

The catalyst may be added in the presence of the oxidizing agent by weight of the lignocellulosic material at a pH from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. The treatment pH may vary widely and any temperature sufficient to form the desired treated lignocellulosic material can be used. The treatment pH may be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM> about <NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two ofthese values. For example, the pH may be an acidic pH (i.e., about <NUM> to less than about <NUM>), and the pH may preferably be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and more preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

When the amount of another component is determined based on the weight of, e.g., lignocellulosic material, it is based on the dry weight of lignocellulosic material. The lignocellulosic material (for example, a lignocellulosic kraft pulp) may be in an aqueous solution of about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% lignocellulosic material based on water in the solution. Thus, the lignocellulosic material may be in an aqueous solution of about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt%, or any range including and/or in-between these values.

Treatment temperatures may vary widely and any temperature sufficient to form the desired treated lignocellulosic product can be used. The treatment temperature is usually at least about <NUM>, although lower temperatures may be used if effective to provide the desired lignocellulosic material. The treatment temperature may be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or any range including and/or in- between any two ofthese values. The treatment temperature is preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, even more preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and most preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

Treatment times may vary widely and any time sufficient to form the desired treated lignocellulosic product can be used. The treatment time is usually at least about <NUM> minutes although longer treatment times may be used if effective to provide the desired lignocellulosic material. The treatment time is preferably from about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> hours, more preferably about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> hours and even more preferably from about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> hours. Suitable treatment times include about <NUM> minutes, about <NUM> minutes, about <NUM> minutes, about <NUM> hour, about an hour and a half, about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

Optionally, the process may or may not be carried out in the presence of UV radiation in addition to the catalyst and the oxidizing agent, and preferably when hydrogen peroxide is used as the oxidizing agent. Including UV radiation has the advantage of being more effective at lower temperatures such as room temperature (or ambient temperature) without need for heating equipment and may be used for widening the pH effective range. For example, the process may be effectively carried in the presence of UV radiation at ambient temperature (or without beating), at about neutral pH (i.e., about <NUM> to about <NUM>,), and/or in a very short time of from a few seconds to about <NUM> hour, depending, e.g., on UV lamp power. The UV lamp used. in the process preferably is a high intensity lamp, such a medium pressure mercury arc lamp or a variant thereof, a pulsed Xenon flash lamp, or an excimer lamp. It is most preferable to use a medium pressure mercury arc lamp which is low cost and readily available from commercial sources. One or more UV lamps, which are typically inserted in quartz sleeves, may be inserted (submerged) into the pulp for irradiation. Sometimes, it may be more advantageous to put UV lamps above the mixing suspension of the lignocellulosic material. For this type of UV irradiation, both mercury arc lamps and electrode-less powered lamps (such as from Fusion UV company) may be used. It is preferred that the pulp is fully mixed and well stirred during reaction as UV penetration in water is very low and most chemical action arises from UV decomposing the peroxide in aqueous solutions. In any embodiment herein, the UV treatment may or may not be performed with addition of a UV catalyst. Useful UV catalysts include, but are not limited to, micro- or nano-particulate titanium dioxide or zinc oxide photo-catalysts; an azo-based water-soluble organic catalyst, such as <NUM>,<NUM>'-azobis(<NUM>-cyanovaleric acid), <NUM>,<NUM>'-azobis(<NUM> methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride, <NUM>,<NUM>'-azobis(<NUM>-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN), <NUM>,<NUM>'-azobiscyclohexanecarbonitrile (e.g., DuPont VAZO® catalyst <NUM>), and/or (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tetramethyllpiperidinyl)oxyl (TEMPO).

The process may be conducted batch wise, continuously, or semi-continuously. The process may also be practiced as part of a pulping process as a process step at the end of a mechanical, semi-chemical or chemical pulping process or as a part of a multi-step bleaching process as a step at the end of the bleaching process (i.e., no further bleaching steps are performed after the treatment step of the process). The process may also be used to treat market paper making pulp and/or fluff pulp as for example by re-slushing market paper making pulp or fluff pulp in a hydro-pulper or like-device. The treatment in the hydro-pulper or like-device has the flexibility of adjusting conditions. For instance, the treatment may start at acidic pH and after some appropriate period of time the treatment includes adjusting to alkaline pH by the addition of caustic and continuing the reaction at higher pH. This combined acidic-alkaline treatment may be used to change the ratio of carboxyl vs. carbonyl groups in the treated lignocellulosic material.

The treated lignocellulosic material may possess any one or more features previously described for the fluff pulp (e.g., a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about <NUM>, a copper number of less than about <NUM>, a carboxyl content of more than about <NUM> meq/<NUM> grams; an ISO brightness of at least <NUM>; and a viscosity from about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) to about <NUM> mPa-s (cps), or combination of any two or more thereof) as well as any range described herein. In any embodiment herein, and as discussed previously for the fluff pulp, the treated lignocellulosic material has a copper ion content of at least <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the treated lignocellulosic material. In any embodiment herein, and as discussed previously for the fluff pulp, the treated lignocellulosic material has an iron ion content of at least <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the treated lignocellulosic material.

A process for improving odor control properties of a fluff pulp includes treating a first lignocellulosic material by adding from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) of a copper salt at a pH of about <NUM> to about <NUM> to form a second lignocellulosic material, where the dry second lignocellulosic material has at least <NUM>% greater inhibiting effect on ammonia formation than dry first lignocellulosic material. The inhibiting effect may be at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, at least about <NUM>% greater, about <NUM>% greater, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values. The pH may be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM> about <NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

In any embodiment of such a process herein, it may be the first lignocellulosic material does not contain more than about <NUM>/l (ppm) copper, and preferably no more than about <NUM>/l (ppm) copper, even more preferably no more than about <NUM>/l (ppm) copper. In any embodiment herein, it may be the first lignocellulosic material does not contain detectable copper as measured by ICP-Atomic Absorption.

Copper salts are described previously and the term "copper salt" is intended to mean either one copper salt, a mixture of any two or more copper salts, a hydrate of any one or more of the preceding, as well as a combination of any two or more thereof, where the amount of copper salt added may be about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l ( ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l ( ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

Lignocellulosic materials have also been described previously. In the process, the lignocellulosic material is preferably a bleached kraft pulp, more preferably a fluff pulp that includes bleached kraft fiber. The bleached kraft fiber/pulp may possess any one or more features described for the bleached kraft fiber of the fluff pulp of the present technology (e.g., a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about <NUM>, a copper number of less than about <NUM>, a carboxyl content of more than about <NUM> meq/<NUM> grams; an ISO brightness of at least <NUM>; and a viscosity from about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) to about <NUM> mPa-s (cps), or combination of any two or more thereof) as well as any range described herein.

It may further be that an iron salt is added with the copper salt, such as about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) of an iron salt. Iron salts are described previously where and the term "iron salt" is intended to mean either one iron salt, a mixture of any two or more iron salts, a hydrate of any one or more of the preceding, as well as a combination of any two or more thereof. The amount of iron salt added may be about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), about <NUM>/l (ppm), or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values. In the process, the weight ratio of the iron salt to the copper salt is at most about <NUM>:<NUM>. By "at most about <NUM>:<NUM>," the phrase means no greater ratio of iron salts to copper salts is included, such as <NUM>: <NUM>, but does not encompass a range where no iron is included as then there would be no ratio at all. The weight ratio of iron salts to copper salts may be about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, about <NUM>:<NUM>, or any range including and/or in-between any two of these values.

For example, the process may include treating the first lignocellulosic material by adding from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) of a copper salt and about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) ofan iron salt at apH of about <NUM> to about 9to form the second lignocellulosic material.

In any embodiment herein, the copper salt (and, when applicable, iron salt) may be added as an aqueous solution. In such embodiments, the process may include treating the first lignocellulosic material by adding an aqueous solution of the copper salt (and, where applicable, iron salt) at a pH of about <NUM> to about <NUM> to provide a wetted lignocellulosic material; and drying the wetted lignocellulosic material to form the second lignocellulosic material; where the second lignocellulosic material includes about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) of the copper salt (or any previously described range) and, when iron salt is included, about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) of the iron salt (or any previously described range). It may further be that the process includes drying the wetted lignocellulosic material followed by fiberizing to form the second lignocellulosic material.

In any embodiment herein, the second lignocellulosic material may possess any one or more features previously described for the fluff pulp (e.g., a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about <NUM>, a copper number of less than about <NUM>, a carboxyl content of more than about <NUM> meq/<NUM> grams; an ISO brightness of at least <NUM>; and a viscosity from about <NUM> mPa-s (cps) to about <NUM> mPa-s (cps), or combination of any two or more thereof) as well as any range described herein. In any embodiment herein, and as discussed previously for the fluffpulp, the treated lignocellulosic material may have a copper ion content from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the treated lignocellulosic material, or any range of copper ion content described herein. In any embodiment herein, and as discussed previously for the fluffpulp, the treated lignocellulosic material may have an iron ion content from about <NUM>/l (ppm) to about <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the treated lignocellulosic material.

The treated lignocellulosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be subjected to a number of subsequent treatments to further modify the properties of the material. For example, in any embodiment herein, the treated lignocellulosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be treated with a cationic agent which (without being bound by theory) is believed to bind the reducing functional groups of the treated materials. Useful cationic material can vary widely and includes, but is not limited to, cationic nitrogen containing polymers such as polyamines, <NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>-(<NUM>-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), hexadimethrine bromide, polyethyleneimines (linear and/or branched), copolymers of diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC). copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) with quaternized diethylaminoethylmethacrylate (DEAMEMA), polyamides, cationic polyurethane latex, cationic polyvinyl alcohol, polyalkylamines, dicyandiamide copolymers, amine glycidyl addition polymers, poly[oxyethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene (dimethyliminio)ethylene] dichlorides, high charge-density polyvinylamine, polyallylamine (PAH), poly (hexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride) (PHMB), polyamidoamine (or polyethylenimine); cationic metal ions, such as water-soluble aluminum salts, calcium salts, and/or zirconium salts; and cationic dendrimen, such as (polyamidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAM dendrimers) with amino surface groups, and polypropylenimine dendrimers with amino surface groups. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that treatment with such cationic materials may modify properties such as increase paper bulk, which is desirable for fine paper, paperboard, tissue, towel, and absorbent products, while maintaining good strength and having decreased water retention value (WRV) and increased freeness.

The treated lignocellulosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be treated with micro- or nano-particulate metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and/or silica, where such materials are retained by the treated lignocellulosic material to modify properties such as colorant fixation, dye fixation, optical brightener fixation, printability, and/or odor control characteristics. The treated lignocellulosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be treated with a cross linking material during papermaking or fibrous network forming. Exemplary cross linking materials include a water-dispersible or water-soluble bi- or multi-functional carbodiimide and/or polycarbodiimide, such as <NUM>,<NUM>-hexamethylene bis(ethylcarbodiimide); <NUM>,<NUM>-octamethylene bis(ethylcarbodiimide); <NUM>,<NUM>-decamethylene bis(ethylcarbodiimide ); l,<NUM>-dodecamethylene bis(ethylcarbodiimide ); PEG-bis(propyl(ethylcarbodiimide )); <NUM>,<NUM>'-dithioethyl bis(ethylcarbodiimde); l,<NUM>'-dithio-p-phenylene bis(ethylcarbodiimide); and <NUM>,<NUM>'-dithio-m-phenylene bis(ethylcarbodiimide). The bi- or multi-functional carbodiimide groups react with the reducing functional groups of the treated lignocellulosic material (or second lignocellulosic material) and cross-link fibers of the material inside the paper or fiber network structure.

The treated lignocellulosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be used for conventional purposes in situ or after isolation using conventional product isolation techniques. For example, the treated lignocellulosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be used to make paper or paperboard substrates or webs. Methods and apparatuses for preparing a substrate formed of lignocellulosic fibers are well-known in the paper and paperboard art. See, for example, "<NPL>) and references cited therein. Any conventional method and apparatus may be used. Preferably, such a process for using the treated lignocellulosic material (or second lignocellulosic material) includes: a) depositing an aqueous suspension of lignocellulosic fibers from the treated lignocellulosic material on a forming wire of a paper making machine to form a wet paper or paperboard web; b) drying the wet paper or paperboard web to obtain dried paper or paperboard web and c) calendering the dried paper or paperboard web. In addition to these, additional steps known to those of ordinary skill in the art may be employed; for example, a coating step to coat one or more surfaces of the dried paper or paperboard web with a coating that includes a binder containing dispersant pigment, and/or treating the dried paper or paperboard at a size press with a sizing agent such as starch.

The treated lignocelluosic material or second lignocellulosic material may be used to prepare absorbent articles, for example, diapers, tissues, towels, and/or personal hygiene products, using conventional processes. Such products and their methods of manufacture are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. See, for example, <CIT> and <CIT>, and references described therein. The treated lignocellulosic kraft pulp (which necessarily includes treated kraft pulp fibers) may be used to make saturating kraft paper. Saturating kraft paper is a paper sheet made from unbleached kraft pulp (typically a mixture of mostly hardwood and some softwood such as southern pine) that is used as substrate for impregnation and curing with resin polymers. Saturating kraft paper is used as home and office building materials, such as kitchen counter tops. A useful property of saturating kraft paper is control the liquid (typically a polymer resin solution) penetration rate into the sheet, while maintaining paper porosity and density. All of the hardwood kraft fiber in the saturating sheet may be replaced by softwood as for example southern pine kraft (linerboard grade pine kraft) treated by the processes of any embodiment herein to provide saturating kraft paper having with good liquid transport properties.

The examples herein are provided to illustrate advantages of the present technology and to further assist a person of ordinary skill in the art with preparing or using the processes of the present technology. The examples herein are also presented in order to more fully illustrate the preferred aspects of the present technology. The examples should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the present technology. The examples can include or incorporate any of the variations, embodiments, or aspects of the present technology described above. The variations, embodiments, or aspects described above may also further each include or incorporate the variations of any or all other variations, embodiments, or aspects of the present technology.

A sheet of fluff pulp is cut into <NUM> (<NUM> inch) strips and fiberized using a Kamas H01 laboratory Hammermill. The fiberized pulp is made into an airlaid <NUM> diameter pad using an airlaid pad former. Each pad is made with <NUM> grams of fiberized pulp unless otherwise noted. The pad is compressed in a carver press to approximately <NUM>/cc density. Two compressed pads are placed in an airtight <NUM> liter bottle. <NUM> of a freshly prepared <NUM>% solution of urease (Urease from Canavalia ensiformis (Jack Bean), purchased from Sigma) in synthetic urine (RICCA Chemical Company) is added to each <NUM> gram pad and the bottle is sealed. After <NUM> hours, a Draeger Tube is used to detect the ammonia concentration in the headspace of the bottle. As provided by this procedure, the lower the concentration of ammonia, the better the ammonia inhibition effect of the fiberized fluff pulp.

A sheet of fluff pulp is cut into <NUM> (<NUM> inch) strips and fiberized using a Kamas H01 laboratory Hammermill. The fiberized pulp is mixed with SAP for a total weight of <NUM> grams. For example, if a <NUM>% SAP pad is required, then <NUM> grams of fiberized pulp are mixed with <NUM> gram of SAP. The SAP used is HySorb® <NUM> (BASF) unless otherwise noted. The mixture of fiberized pulp and SAP is then fed into an airlaid pad former to form a <NUM><NUM> round pad. The pad is compressed to approximately <NUM>/cc using a carver press. The pad is placed into a <NUM> liter airtight container. <NUM> of <NUM>% urease solution (described in Example <NUM>) is added to the pad and the container is sealed. After <NUM> hours, a Draeger Tube is used to detect the ammonia concentration in the headspace of the container.

A pulp was collected after the first chlorine dioxide brightening (D<NUM>) stage in a commercial scale D<NUM>EopD<NUM>D<NUM> bleaching sequence and had a <NUM> mPa-s (cps) viscosity. This pulp was treated in an acidic bleaching stage containing different types and amounts of metal salts, as noted in Table <NUM>. Each treatment utilized <NUM> grams of dry pulp at <NUM>% consistency (i.e., <NUM> wt% pulp in solution) and <NUM>% hydrogen peroxide (i.e., <NUM> wt% based on pulp) at a temperature of <NUM> for a period of <NUM> minutes.

After the treatment, the pulps were washed with <NUM> of deionized water and thickened to approximately <NUM>% solids. The thickened pulp was then diluted to approximately <NUM>% consistency with DI water and formed into a <NUM> gsm handsheet on an <NUM> inch by <NUM> inch handsheet mold. The wet pulp sheet was pressed between blotter paper to remove excess liquid and subsequently dried on a rotary drum dryer at <NUM> °F. The ammonia inhibiting properties of the dried sheet were then explored with and without SAP as described in Examples <NUM> and <NUM>. As shown in Table <NUM>, using as little as <NUM>/l (ppm) CuSO<NUM> in combination with the FeSO<NUM> had a pronounced inhibiting effect on ammonia formation: the ammonia inhibition when no SAP was included as about <NUM>% (<NUM>% - (<NUM> ppm NH<NUM>/<NUM> ppm NH<NUM> X <NUM>%) = <NUM>%) when <NUM> ppm CuSO<NUM> was used in the acidic peroxide bleaching versus Entry <NUM>. Moreover, when <NUM> ppm CuSO<NUM> was used in combination with <NUM> ppm FeSO<NUM>, there was <NUM>% ammonia inhibition when no SAP was included and about <NUM>% ammonia inhibition when <NUM>% SAP was included.

Commercial production conditions were conducted at International Paper's Riegelwood, NC mill. This mill bleaches kraft softwood pulp with a D<NUM>EopD<NUM>D<NUM> bleaching sequence. The D<NUM> stage was altered to produce a low viscosity pulp using <NUM>% hydrogen peroxide and metal salt, where the metal salt composition and content were varied. The first pulp (entry <NUM>, Table <NUM>) was produced using <NUM>/l (ppm) FeSO<NUM> as the only metal salt. The second pulp (entry <NUM>, Table <NUM>) was produced using <NUM>/l (ppm) FeSO<NUM> and <NUM>/l (ppm) CuSO<NUM>. Both of these reaction conditions resulted in pulps with low viscosity.

Each pulp was then made into a fluff pulp sheet on a Fourdrinier-type papermachine with cylindrical steam-heated can dryers. Samples of the each dried sheet were then collected and tested for ammonia inhibition as described in Examples <NUM> and <NUM>. As illustrated in Table <NUM>, as little as <NUM> ppm CuSO<NUM> used in the acidic hydrogen peroxide bleaching stage had a pronounced inhibiting effect on ammonia formation. This result was found for pads made with and without SAP.

A fluff- pulp sheet (RW SuperSoft® Plus; commercially produced by International Paper) was soaked in a deionized water bath at room temperature (<NUM> °F) for one minute with increasing concentrations of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO<NUM>·<NUM><NUM>O). After the soaking procedure, the pulp sheet was pressed between blotter paper to remove excess liquid and the sheet was dried on a rotary drum dryer at <NUM> °F. The dried sheet was then tested for ammonia inhibition as described in Examples <NUM> and <NUM>, where Table <NUM> shows the results from these tests. As little as <NUM>/l (ppm) Cu<NUM>+ had a pronounced inhibiting effect on ammonia formation.

A fluff-pulp sheet (RW SuperSoft® Plus; commercially produced by International Paper) was sprayed with different aqueous solutions containing deionized water and varying concentrations of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO<NUM>·<NUM><NUM>O). The fluff pulp sheet was sprayed until it became visibly wet. After the spraying procedure, each pulp sheet was pressed between blotter paper to remove excess liquid and the sheet was dried on a rotary drum dryer at <NUM> °F. Each dried sheet was then tested for ammonia inhibition as described in Example <NUM>, where Table <NUM> shows the results from these tests. As little as <NUM>/l (ppm) Cu<NUM>+ had a pronounced inhibiting effect on ammonia formation.

Claim 1:
A fluff pulp comprising bleached kraft fiber comprising:
a length-weighted average fiber length of at least <NUM>;
a copper number of less than <NUM>;
a carboxyl content of more than <NUM> meq/<NUM> grams;
an ISO brightness of at least <NUM>;
a viscosity from <NUM> mPa-s to <NUM> mPa-s (<NUM> cps to <NUM> cps); and
a copper ion content of at least <NUM>/l (ppm) by weight of the bleached kraft fiber, wherein
the fluff pulp has a wet pickup of <NUM> to <NUM> grams per <NUM>,<NUM> by <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> inch by <NUM> inch) of sheet area.