The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.

The present invention provides a pulp product (e.g., paper) comprising cellulose and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is derived from the cellulose in a mechanical and/or chemical step that is separate from the main pulping process. The pulping process may be thermomechanical pulping or hydrothermal-mechanical pulping, for example. The pulp product is stronger and smoother with the presence of the nanocellulose. The nanocellulose further can function as a retention aid, for a step of forming the pulp product (e.g., in a paper machine). Other embodiments provide a corrugated medium pulp composition comprising cellulose pulp and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose includes cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals and the nanocellulose may be hydrophobic. The nanocellulose improves the strength properties of the corrugated medium. In some embodiments, the cellulose pulp is a GreenBox+® pulp and the nanocellulose is derived from the AVAP® process.

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.

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.

A modified kraft pulp fiber with unique properties is provided. The modified fiber can be a modified bleached kraft fiber that is almost indistinguishable from its conventional counterpart, except that it has a low degree of polymerization (DP). Methods for making the modified fiber and products made from it are also provided. The method can be a one step acidic, iron catalyzed peroxide treatment process that can be incorporated into a single stage of a multi-stage bleaching process. The products can be chemical cellulose feedstocks, microcrystalline cellulose feedstocks, fluff pulps and products made from them.

A modified kraft pulp fiber with unique properties is provided. The modified fiber can be a modified bleached kraft fiber that is almost indistinguishable from its conventional counterpart, except that it has a low degree of polymerization (DP). Methods for making the modified fiber and products made from it are also provided. The method can be a one step acidic, iron catalyzed peroxide treatment process that can be incorporated into a single stage of a multi-stage bleaching process. The products can be chemical cellulose feedstocks, microcrystalline cellulose feedstocks, fluff pulps and products made from them.

A method for manufacture of paper or board, in which method an inverted solution of cationic polymer is added to the fiber suspension for providing retention enhancement without over-flocculating fiber stock and destruction sheet formation and/or improving drainage and enhancing or at least maintaining strength of paper or board, An inverted solution has a bulk viscosity of 50-150 mPas at 0.2 weight-% cationic polymer concentration and inverted solution comprises cationic polymer obtained by reverse phase emulsion polymerization of a monomer blend comprising non-ionic monomers, 15-50 mol-% cationic monomers, an optionally at most 50 ppm of a crosslinking agent, and a chain transfer agent, and the obtained reverse phase emulsion of cationic polymer is inverted into an aqueous solution.

A method for manufacture of paper or board, in which method an inverted solution of cationic polymer is added to the fiber suspension for providing retention enhancement without over-flocculating fiber stock and destruction sheet formation and/or improving drainage and enhancing or at least maintaining strength of paper or board, An inverted solution has a bulk viscosity of 50-150 mPas at 0.2 weight-% cationic polymer concentration and inverted solution comprises cationic polymer obtained by reverse phase emulsion polymerization of a monomer blend comprising non-ionic monomers, 15-50 mol-% cationic monomers, an optionally at most 50 ppm of a crosslinking agent, and a chain transfer agent, and the obtained reverse phase emulsion of cationic polymer is inverted into an aqueous solution.

Cellulose materials and methods of making the cellulose materials are described herein. The method can include contacting a cotton fabric with an oxidizing system to obtain an oxidized cotton material and processing the oxidized cotton material to form the cellulose material. The oxidizing system can include an aqueous mixture of a N-oxyl compound and a hypochlorite compound. During oxidation, the pH of the aqueous mixture can be maintained at from 8.5 to 11. Cellulose products can be formed from the cellulose materials. For example, the cellulose products can be used to form a packaging material, a biomedical device or implant, a drug delivery material, a fiber, a textile material, a template for electronic components, or a separation membrane. Methods of making the cellulose product include dissolving or suspending an active ingredient in a medium comprising the cellulose material.

Cellulose materials and methods of making the cellulose materials are described herein. The method can include contacting a cotton fabric with an oxidizing system to obtain an oxidized cotton material and processing the oxidized cotton material to form the cellulose material. The oxidizing system can include an aqueous mixture of a N-oxyl compound and a hypochlorite compound. During oxidation, the pH of the aqueous mixture can be maintained at from 8.5 to 11. Cellulose products can be formed from the cellulose materials. For example, the cellulose products can be used to form a packaging material, a biomedical device or implant, a drug delivery material, a fiber, a textile material, a template for electronic components, or a separation membrane. Methods of making the cellulose product include dissolving or suspending an active ingredient in a medium comprising the cellulose material.