Bleaching and shive reduction process for non-wood fibers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of increasing the brightness of non-wood fibers and nonwoven fabric fabrics produced by the method. In one aspect, the method includes forming a mixture of non-wood fibers and exposing the mixture to a brightening agent to produce brightened fibers. The brightening agent is oxygen gas, peracetic acid, a peroxide compound, or a combination thereof. The brightened fibers have a brightness greater than the fibers of the mixture before exposure as measured by MacBeth UV-C standard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Brightened bast fibers, comprising:
 a mean length of about 5 to about 95 millimeters (mm); and   a brightness greater or equal to 80 as measured by a TAPPI brightness test.   
     
     
         2 . The brightened bast fibers of  claim 1 , wherein the brightened bast fibers are substantially pectin-free and 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 bast fibers into fiber mat at consistency of about 20% to about 50%, the fibers having a mean length of about 5 to about 95 millimeters (mm); and   exposing the fiber mat at the consistency of about 20% to about 50% to a brightening agent to produce brightened bast fibers, the brightening agent comprising a peroxide compound and oxygen gas, the oxygen gas being dissolved in solution and being about 0.1 to about 10.0% on fiber oxygen;   wherein the brightened bast fibers have a brightness greater or equal to 80 as measured by a TAPPI standard.   
     
     
         4 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 3 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is 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 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 brightened bast 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:
 brightened bast fibers having a mean length of about 5 to about 95 millimeters (mm); and   a brightness greater or equal to 80 as measured by a TAPPI standard.   
     
     
         10 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 9 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is 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 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 brightened bast 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 11 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The nonwoven fabric of  claim 11 , 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:
 brightened bast fibers having a mean length of about 5 to about 95 millimeters (mm); and   a brightness greater or equal to 80 as measured by a TAPPI standard.   
     
     
         16 . The textile of  claim 15 , wherein the textile is 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 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 19 , wherein the brightened bast 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 19 , 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 19 , 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.