Modified Kraft Fibers

Abstract

A method of producing a modified pulp for use in paper or paper web products, the method comprising treating wood chips in an extraction process to remove hemicellose to form treated wood chips; and subjecting said treated wood chips to chemical or semichemical pulping to form a modified Kraft pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 5 to about 10% by dry weight of the modified pulp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a modified pulp for use in paper or paper web products, the method comprising:
 treating wood chips in an extraction process to remove hemicellose to form treated wood chips; and   subjecting said treated wood chips to chemical or semichemical pulping to form a modified Kraft pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 4 to about 15% by oven dried weight of the modified pulp.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 5% to about 10% by oven dried weight of the modified Kraft pulp. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 6% to about 10% by oven dried weight of the modified Kraft pulp. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 6% to about 8% by oven dried weight of the modified Kraft pulp. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modified Kraft pulp includes enhanced properties define by higher bulk, higher brightness, better drainage and dewatering or drying or a combination. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of treating wood chips is producing a modified Kraft pulp having at least about 1% by weight less hemicelluloses the same pulp when un-modified. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of treating wood chips is producing a modified Kraft pulp having from about 1% to about 20% less hemicelluloses than the same pulp when un-modified. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of treating wood chips is producing a modified Kraft pulp having from about 1% to about 16% less hemicelluloses than the same pulp when un-modified. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of treating wood chips is producing a modified Kraft pulp having from about 2% to about 8% less hemicelluloses than the same pulp when un-modified. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  the wood chips are treated with an aqueous base solution having a pH greater than 7. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the pH of the aqueous base solution is equal to or greater than about 8. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pH of the aqueous base solution is from about 8 to about 12. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the pH of the aqueous base solution is from about 9 to about 11. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the modified pulp exhibits water retention greater than about 0.1 g/g more than that of the same or substantially the same unmodified pulp 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the modified pulp exhibits water retention greater than about 0.2 g/g more than that of the same or substantially the same unmodified pulp. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the modified pulp exhibits water retention of from about 0.2 g/g to about 0.2 g/g than that of the same or substantially the same unmodified pulp. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modified pulp exhibits freeness of at least about 20 CSF units greater than that of the same or substantially same un-modified pulp the increase in greater than that of the un-modified pulp. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the modified pulp exhibits freeness of at least about 50 CSF units greater than that of the same or substantially same un-modified pulp. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the modified pulp exhibits freeness of from about 50 to about 200 CSF units greater than that of the same or substantially same un-modified pulp. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  which further comprises bleaching the modified modified chemical or semi-chemical pulp. 
     
     
         21 . An absorbent personal hygiene article comprising:
 at least one fluid permeable topsheet layer;   at least one fluid impervious backsheet layer coterminous with the topsheet layer; and   at least one absorbent sublayer between the at least one top sheet layer and the at least backsheet layer, the at least one absorbent layer comprising a bleached modified chemical or semi-chemical pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified pulp is from about 4 to about 16% by dry weight of the same or substantially the same modified pulp.   
     
     
         22 . A bleached modified chemical or semi-chemical pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified pulp is from about 4 to about 16% by dry weight of the same or substantially the same modified pulp. 
     
     
         23 . A paper or paperboard comprising a bleached modified chemical or semi-chemical pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified pulp is from about 4 to about 16% by dry weight of the same or substantially the same modified pulp.