Paper and absorbent products with reduced pitch content

Abstract

A paper product having a mass of cellulosic fibers produced from wood, where the fibers have a pitch content reduced by at least about 40% as compared to an expected pitch content based on naturally-occurring levels of pitch in the wood is disclosed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A paper product comprising a mass of cellulosic fibers produced from wood, the fibers having a pitch content reduced by greater than 55% as compared to an expected pitch content based on naturally-occurring levels of pitch in the wood.  
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the reduction in pitch content is from about 40 to about 80% of the pitch content expected based on naturally-occurring levels of pitch in the wood.  
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the product has a density of from about 2 to about 10% greater than the expected density of a product produced from wood containing naturally-occurring levels of pitch.  
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the burst index is from about 10 to about 60% greater than the expected burst index of a product produced from wood with naturally-occurring levels of pitch.  
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the tear index is from about 10 to about 35% greater than the expected tear index of a product produced from wood having naturally-occurring levels of pitch.  
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile index is from about 10 to about 40% greater than the expected tensile index of a product produced from wood having a naturally-occurring pitch content.  
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffness is increased by from about 5 to about 15% as compared to the stiffness of a product produced from wood containing naturally-occurring levels of pitch.  
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the stretch capability is increased by from about 5 to about 15% as compared to a product produced from wood containing naturally-occurring levels of pitch.  
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the Scott Bond index is increased by from about 10 to about 30% as compared to a product produced from wood containing naturally-occurring levels of pitch.  
     
     
         10 . Paper product of  claim 1 , comprising fibers having a VOC content reduced by at least about 50% as compared to an expected VOC content based on naturally-occurring levels of VOC in the wood.  
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 1  wherein said pitch content is reduced from about 60% to about 80%.