Bleaching and shive reduction process for non-wood fibers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for scouring and increasing the brightness of non-wood fibers. The method comprises forming a mixture of non-wood fibers, exposing the mixture to a scouring liquor and a scouring agent comprising oxygen gas to form a scouring mixture, and scouring the scouring mixture by radially circulating the scouring liquor throughout the scouring mixture to provide scoured fibers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Oxygen scoured and brightened bast fibers, comprising:
 a mean length of at least 7 millimeters (mm); and   a brightness of at least 70 as measured by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) 525 standard test method.   
     
     
         2 . The oxygen scoured and brightened bast fibers of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen scoured and brightened bast fibers are flax fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, ramie fibers, nettle fibers, Spanish broom fibers, kenaf plant fibers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A nonwoven fabric, formed by a method comprising:
 forming a mixture of non-wood fibers having a mean length of at least 7 millimeters (mm) into a fiber mat within a perforated basket arranged within a kier;   exposing the mixture to a scouring liquor and a scouring agent comprising oxygen gas to form a scouring mixture;   scouring the scouring mixture in the perforated basket by radially circulating the scouring liquor, by a circulation pump, throughout the mixture to provide scoured fibers with a brightness in a range between about 25 and about 60 as measured by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) 525 standard test method; and   forming the scoured fibers into the nonwoven fabric.   
     
     
         4 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is or used in a wet wiper, a dry wiper, an impregnated wiper, a sorbent, a medical supply product, a personal protective fabric, an automotive protective covering, a personal care article, a fluid filtration product, a home furnishing product, a thermal insulation product, an acoustic insulation product, an agricultural application product, a landscaping application product, or a geotextile application product. 
     
     
         5 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is or used in a baby wipe, a cosmetic wipe, a perinea wipe, a disposable washcloth, a kitchen wipe, a bath wipe, a hard surface wipe, a glass wipe, a mirror wipe, a leather wipe, an electronics wipe, a lens wipe, a polishing wipe, a medical cleaning wipe, a disinfecting wipe, an industrial wipe, a food service wipe, a surgical drape, a surgical gown, a wound care product, a protective coverall, a sleeve protector, a diaper, a feminine care article, a nursing pad, an air filter, a water filter, an oil filter, or a furniture backing. 
     
     
         6 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the scoured fibers are flax fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, ramie fibers, nettle fibers, Spanish broom fibers, kenaf plant fibers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is a bonded carded web, an airlaid web, a coform web, a hydraulically entangled web, a needle-punch web, a wet-laid web, a meltblown web, a spunbond web, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         8 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the nonwoven fabric further comprises synthetic fibers, polymeric fibers, thermoplastic fibers, staple fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, cotton fibers, wood pulp fibers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A nonwoven fabric, comprising:
 scoured and brightened bast fibers comprising:
 a mean length of at least 7 millimeters (mm); and 
 a brightness of at least 70 as measured by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) 525 standard test method. 
   
     
     
         10 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is or used in a wet wiper, a dry wiper, an impregnated wiper, a sorbent, a medical supply product, a personal protective fabric, an automotive protective covering, a personal care article, a fluid filtration product, a home furnishing product, a thermal insulation product, an acoustic insulation product, an agricultural application product, a landscaping application product, or a geotextile application product. 
     
     
         11 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is or used in a baby wipe, a cosmetic wipe, a perinea wipe, a washcloth, a kitchen wipe, a bath wipe, a hard surface wipe, a glass wipe, a mirror wipe, a leather wipe, an electronics wipe, a lens wipe, a polishing wipe, a medical cleaning wipe, a disinfecting wipe, an industrial wipe, a food service wipe, a surgical drape, a surgical gown, a wound care product, a protective coverall, a sleeve protector, a diaper, a feminine care article, a nursing pad, an air filter, a water filter, an oil filter, or a furniture backing. 
     
     
         12 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the scoured non-wood fibers are flax fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, ramie fibers, nettle fibers, Spanish broom fibers, kenaf plant fibers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is a bonded carded web, an airlaid web, a coform web, a hydraulically entangled web, a needle-punch web, a wet-laid web, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven fabric further comprises synthetic fibers, polymeric fibers, thermoplastic fibers, staple fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, cotton fibers, wood pulp fibers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A textile, comprising:
 scoured bast fibers comprising:
 a mean length of at least 7 millimeters (mm); and 
 a brightness of at least 70 as measured by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) 525 standard test method. 
   
     
     
         16 . The textile of  claim 15 , wherein the textile is or used in a wet wiper, a dry wiper, an impregnated wiper, a sorbent, a medical supply product, a personal protective fabric, an automotive protective covering, a personal care article, a fluid filtration product, a home furnishing product, a thermal insulation product, an acoustic insulation product, an agricultural application product, a landscaping application product, or a geotextile application product. 
     
     
         17 . The textile of  claim 15 , wherein the textile is or used in a baby wipe, a cosmetic wipe, a perinea wipe, a washcloth, a kitchen wipe, a bath wipe, a hard surface wipe, a glass wipe, a mirror wipe, a leather wipe, an electronics wipe, a lens wipe, a polishing wipe, a medical cleaning wipe, a disinfecting wipe, an industrial wipe, a food service wipe, a surgical drape, a surgical gown, a wound care product, a protective coverall, a sleeve protector, a diaper, a feminine care article, a nursing pad, an air filter, a water filter, an oil filter, or a furniture backing. 
     
     
         18 . The textile of  claim 15 , wherein the scoured non-wood fibers are flax fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, ramie fibers, nettle fibers, Spanish broom fibers, kenaf plant fibers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The textile of  claim 15 , wherein the textile is a meltblown web, a spunbond web, a bonded carded web, an airlaid web, a coform web, a hydraulically entangled web, a needle-punch web, a wet-laid web, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The textile of  claim 15 , wherein the textile further comprises synthetic fibers, polymeric fibers, thermoplastic fibers, staple fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, cotton fibers, wood pulp fibers, or a combination thereof.