Methods for the preparation of cellulose fibers having superabsorbent particles adhered thereto

Abstract

A method for adhering superabsorbent particles to cellulose fibers, comprising optionally treating cellulose treated with a hydrophilic polysaccharide polymer with a crosslinking agent in water to provide a first aqueous mixture; adding a plurality of superabsorbent particles to the first aqueous suspension to provide a second aqueous mixture; and mixing the second aqueous mixture with a water-miscible solvent to provide cellulose fibers having superabsorbent particles adhered thereto.

1 . A method for adhering superabsorbent particles to cellulose fibers, comprising:
 (a) adding a plurality of superabsorbent particles to a first aqueous mixture comprising cellulose treated with a polysaccharide polymer to provide a second aqueous mixture; and   (b) mixing the second aqueous mixture with a water-miscible solvent to provide cellulose fibers having superabsorbent particles adhered thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising drying the cellulose fibers having particles adhered thereto to provide a partially-dried composite fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising fiberizing the partially-dried composite fibers to provide partially-dried fiberized composite fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising drying the partially-dried fiberized composite fibers to provide dried fiberized composite fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of galactomannan polymers, glucomannan polymers, alginic acids, carageenans, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, starch, carboxymethyl starch, and hydroxyethyl starch. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide comprises guar gum. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers, carboxyalkyl cellulose polymers, carboxyalkyl starch polymers, alginates, chitosans, and starches. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the synthetic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid polymers, polyacrylamide polymers, and polyaspartic acid polymers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying a crosslinking agent to the cellulose treated with polysaccharide in the first aqueous mixture prior to adding the particles. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of aluminum (III) compounds, titanium (IV) compounds, bismuth (III) compounds, boron (III) compounds, and zirconium (IV) compounds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising drying the cellulose fibers having particles adhered thereto to provide a partially-dried composite fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising fiberizing the partially-dried cellulose fibers to provide partially-dried fiberized composite fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising drying the partially-dried fiberized cellulose fibers to provide dried fiberized composite fibers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of galactomannan polymers, glucomannan polymers, alginic acids, carageenans, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, starch, carboxymethyl starch, and hydroxyethyl starch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polysaccharide comprises guar gum. 
     
     
         16 . The method of claim  95  wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of synthetic superabsorbent polymers, carboxyalkyl cellulose polymers, carboxyalkyl starch polymers, alginates, chitosans, and starches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the synthetic superabsorbent polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid polymers, polyacrylamide polymers, and polyaspartic acid polymers.