Method for preparing microfibrillar polysaccharide

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of preparing microfibrillar polysaccharide comprising treating a polysaccharide in an aqueous suspension comprising an oxidant and at least one transition metal, mechanically delaminating said polysaccharide such that microfibrillar polysaccharide is formed. The invention also relates to microfibrillar polysaccharide obtainable by the method.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide obtained by treating a polysaccharide in an aqueous suspension comprising an oxidant and at least one transition metal, mechanically delaminating said polysaccharide in such manner that it comprises microfibrillar polysaccharide lengths from at least about 0.05 mm. 
   
   
       16 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide according to  claim 15 , wherein the polysaccharide is derived from unbleached pulp. 
   
   
       17 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide according to  claim 15 , wherein the transition metal is in ionic form. 
   
   
       18 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide according to  claim 17 , wherein the transition metal is added to the polysaccharide in the form of a salt or metal ion complex. 
   
   
       19 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide according to  claim 15 , wherein said polysaccharide comprises microfibrillar polysaccharide lengths from about 0.05 mm to about 0.9 mm. 
   
   
       20 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide according to  claim 19 , wherein the microfibrillar polysaccharide lengths are from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       21 . A microfibrillar polysaccharide according to  claim 20 , wherein the microfibrillar polysaccharide lengths are from about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm.