The present invention is directed to a novel dialdehyde based reagent that is neutralized, wherein the preparation of the reagent includes the steps of provide a dialdehyde; provide a caustic soda; mix both reagents until pH of the dialdehyde is 5.5 to 7.5; and stir the mixture.

The present invention is intended to enhance the transparency of a composition obtained using ultrafine cellulose fibers having phosphorous acid groups, while suppressing the yellowing of the ultrafine cellulose fibers. The present invention relates to cellulose fibers having a fiber width of 1000 nm or less and having a phosphorus oxoacid group or a phosphorus oxoacid group-derived substituent, wherein when a first amount of dissociated acid in the cellulose fibers is set to be A1 and a total amount of dissociated acid in the cellulose fibers is set to be A2, A1 is 1.35 mmol/g or more, and the value of A1/A2 is 0.51 or more, and when a sheet is formed under a predetermined condition, the YI value of the sheet is 6.0 or less.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a surface-treated fibrous material comprising nanocellulose, in which a fibrous material is surface treated with an organic acid or salt thereof. Fibrous materials as such are also provided. The present technology allows improved Water Vapor Transmission Rates (WVTR) for the fibrous material, while operating on an industrial scale.

The present invention provides aqueous compositions for treating fluff pulp comprising (i) one or more acrylic acid polymers containing phosphinate groups and having a weight average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 6,000 and (ii) from 5 to 50 wt. %, based on the total solids weight of the aqueous compositions, of one or more polyethylene glycols, having a formula weight of from 150 to 7,000, or, preferably, from 200 to 600. The present invention also provides individualized, intrafiber crosslinked cellulosic fibers comprising the cellulosic fiber and, in cured form, the aqueous compositions, as well as methods of making the individualized, intrafiber crosslinked cellulosic fibers.

The HIGH ALPHA AND HIGH INTRINSIC VISCOSITY PULP PRODUCTION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (hereinafter “HIGH-A HIGH-IV PULP PRODUCTION”) disclosed herein provide for pulp processing used in connection with Kraft Processes (KP) or Pre Hydrolysis Kraft Processes (PHKP), embodiments employing a Cold Caustic Extraction (CCE) stage and/or appropriate washing and bleaching stages, resulting in pulp with high Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) and high purity, such as may be as determined by alpha cellulose content, and adequate brightness for use downstream in applications such as high tensile regenerated cellulose and ether applications, or other applications employing high IV pulp with significant purity (e.g., alpha cellulose>92%).

A super strong and tough densified wood structure is formed by subjecting a cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes lignin therefrom. The treated wood retains lumina of the natural wood, with cellulose nanofibers of cell walls being aligned. The treated wood is then pressed in a direction crossing the direction in which the lumina extend, such that the lumina collapse and any residual fluid within the wood is removed. As a result, the cell walls become entangled and hydrogen bonds are formed between adjacent cellulose nanofibers, thereby improving the strength and toughness of the wood among other mechanical properties. By further modifying, manipulating, or machining the densified wood, it can be adapted to various applications.

Disclosed herein is a mixture comprising at least one carbohydrate-active enzyme, at least one liquid natural polymer, and optionally at least one strength agent. The mixture is useful in methods of making paper or board and methods of improving refinability and/or strengthening potential of paper pulp for use in a paper or board mill. In such methods the mixture is added to a cellulosic material containing pulp slurry in the process of making paper or board products.

A composition and method for recovery and/or bioremediation of oil spills and/or hydrophobic hydrocarbons includes (a) cellulosic material, (b) a charged polymer adsorbed to the cellulosic material, and optionally (c) microorganisms combined with the polymer and/or cellulosic material.

Grafted, crosslinked cellulosic materials include cellulose fibers and polymer chains composed of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated acid group-containing monomer (such as acrylic acid) grafted thereto, in which one or more of said cellulose fibers and said polymer chains are crosslinked (such as by intra-fiber chain-to-chain crosslinks). Some of such materials are characterized by a wet bulk of about 10.0-17.0 cm3/g, an IPRP value of about 1000 to 7700 cm2/MPa.Math.sec, and/or a MAP value of about 7.0 to 38 cm H2O. Methods for producing such materials may include grafting polymer chains from a cellulosic substrate, followed by treating the grafted material with a crosslinking agent adapted to effect crosslinking of one or more of the cellulosic substrate or the polymer chains. Example crosslinking mechanisms include esterfication reactions, ionic reactions, and radical reactions, and example crosslinking agents include pentaerythritol, homopolymers of the graft species monomer, and hyperbranched polymers.

Treatment methods for reduction of (1.fwdarw.3)-β-D-glucan leachables from cellulose-containing filter materials are described.