Patent ID: 7144474

Claim:
A method of binding superabsorbent particles to cellulose fibers comprising: providing binder-containing cellulose fiber, the binder-containing cellulose fiber comprising cellulose fiber having hydrogen bonding functional sites and from about 1 to 40% by weight based on the weight of the cellulose fiber of a binder comprising a non-polymeric binder having functional groups selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl, a carboxylate, a carbonyl, a sulfonic acid, a sulfonate, a hydroxyl, a phosphoric acid, a phosphate, an amide, an amine, and combinations thereof, the binder comprising binder molecules, the binder molecules having at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the superabsorbent particles, and at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the cellulose fiber; thereafter combining superabsorbent particles having a hydrogen or a coordinate covalent bonding functional site with the binder-containing cellulose fiber; and binding the superabsorbent particles to the binder-containing cellulose fiber.