Paper enhancing compositions, uses thereof and enhanced paper

Abstract

The present invention provides certain paper enhancing compositions, typically aqueous compositions, for use in the manufacture and coating of paper, and paper products. The paper enhancing compositions provide certain paper processing advantages and distinct final paper product characteristics. The present invention further provides carbonate enhancing composition useful for preparing enhanced carbonate compositions used in the paper manufacturing processes.

1 . A paper forming mixture comprising a paper making fiber and at least one carbonate enhanced composition wherein the at least one carbonate enhanced composition comprises:
 a carbonate selected from the group consisting of at least one calcium carbonate, at least one silver carbonate, at least one organic compound carbonate and mixtures thereof; and   at least one carbonate enhancing composition wherein the carbonate enhancing composition comprises:
 a solubility enhancing aqueous composition comprising an anionic component consisting essentially of sulfate ions, alone or in combination with bisulfate ions, having a concentration from about 8.00 moles per liter to about 13.00 moles per liter of the composition volume; a cationic component consisting essentially of ammonium ions having a concentration from about 1.45 moles per liter to about 2.01 moles per liter of the composition volume; and hydrogen ions in a concentration from about 17.38 mols per liter to about 21.68 moles per liter of the composition volume; 
 sodium hydroxide solution having a concentration of about 5% to about 7.5% volume/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition; and 
 a sulfate selected from the group consisting of copper sulfate, silver sulfate and combinations thereof having a concentration from about 20 percent to about 26 percent mass/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition. 
   
     
     
         2 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the paper making fiber is pulp wood. 
     
     
         3 . A method of increasing at least one of the group consisting of paper tensile, bond and burst strength of paper comprising the addition of at least one carbonate enhanced composition to the wet-end of a paper making process compared to an equal amount of unenhanced calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         4 . Antimicrobial paper comprising paper prepared by the addition of at least one carbonate enhanced composition to the wet-end of a paper making process. 
     
     
         5 . A paper enhancing composition comprising water, at least one solubility enhancing aqueous composition, sodium hydroxide, and copper sulfate 
     
     
         6 . A paper enhancing composition of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of at least one non-ionic surfactants and at least one anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . A paper enhancing composition of  claim 6 , wherein the solubility enhancing aqueous composition comprises
 1 part of a first solution added to about 15 to about 20 parts of water to form a second solution;   sodium hydroxide solution having a concentration of about 5% to about 7.5% volume/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition; and   copper sulfate having a concentration from about 20 percent to about 26 percent mass/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition.   
     
     
         8 . A paper enhancing composition of  claim 7 , further comprising the addition of an acid or base to adjust the pH to a pH from about 2.5 to about 3.5. 
     
     
         9 . Enhanced paper comprising paper having applied during the wet press stage of paper production at least one aqueous enhancing paper composition. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preparing paper for medical and industrial protective uses comprising applying at least one aqueous paper enhancing composition at any stage during the paper making process. 
     
     
         11 . A paper coating comprising at least one aqueous paper enhancing composition. 
     
     
         12 . Paper used for medical and industrial protective purposes comprising paper coated with at least one paper enhancing composition. 
     
     
         13 . Coated paper having antimicrobial activity comprising paper coated with at least one paper enhancing composition. 
     
     
         14 . Coated paper of  claim 13 , wherein the antimicrobial activity is selected from the group consisting of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-mold. 
     
     
         15 . A method of extending the shelf-life of perishable foodstuff comprising placing such foodstuff in contact with coated paper of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         16 . Antimicrobial paper comprising paper prepared by the addition of at least one paper enhancing composition added to paper in the wet-end stage of the paper making process, applied to paper during the wet press stage of the paper making process or applied to paper or paper products as a coating. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carbonate enhancing composition further comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and anionic surfactants having a concentration from about 0.05 percent to about 0.15 percent volume/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition. 
     
     
         20 . A paper forming mixture composition of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carbonate enhancing composition further comprises at least one acid or at least one base to adjust the final pH in the range from about 2.5 to about 3.5. 
     
     
         21 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 20 , wherein the paper making fiber is pulp wood. 
     
     
         22 . A paper forming mixture composition of  claim 19 , wherein the aqueous carbonate enhancing composition further comprises at least one acid or at least one base to adjust the final pH in the range from about 2.5 to about 3.5. 
     
     
         23 . A paper forming mixture consisting essentially of a paper making fiber and at least one carbonate enhanced composition wherein the at least one carbonate enhanced composition consisting essentially of:
 A carbonate selected from the group consisting of at least one calcium carbonate, at least one silver carbonate, at least one organic compound carbonate and mixtures thereof; and   at least one carbonate enhancing composition wherein the carbonate enhancing composition is consisting essentially of:
 a solubility enhancing aqueous composition consisting essentially of an anionic component consisting essentially of sulfate ions, alone or in combination with bisulfate ions, having a concentration from about 8.00 moles per liter to about 13.00 moles per liter of the composition volume; a cationic component consisting essentially of ammonium ions having a concentration from about 1.45 moles per liter to about 2.01 moles per liter of the composition volume; and hydrogen ions in a concentration from about 17.38 mols per liter to about 21.68 moles per liter of the composition volume; 
 sodium hydroxide solution having a concentration of about 5% to about 7.5% volume/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition; and 
 a sulfate selected from the group consisting of copper sulfate, silver sulfate and combinations thereof having a concentration from about 20 percent to about 26 percent mass/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition. 
   
     
     
         24 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 23 , wherein the paper making fiber is pulp wood. 
     
     
         25 . A paper forming mixture composition of  claim 23 , wherein the aqueous carbonate enhancing composition further consists of at least one acid or at least one base to adjust the final pH in the range from about 2.5 to about 3.5. 
     
     
         26 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 23 , wherein the aqueous carbonate enhancing composition further consists at of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and anionic surfactants having a concentration from about 0.05 percent to about 0.15 percent volume/volume of the total aqueous phase volume of the composition. 
     
     
         27 . A paper forming mixture composition of  claim 26 , wherein the aqueous carbonate enhancing composition further consists of at least one acid or at least one base to adjust the final pH in the range from about 2.5 to about 3.5. 
     
     
         28 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 26 , wherein the paper making fiber is pulp wood. 
     
     
         29 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 22 , wherein the carbonate enhancing composition is substantially free of solids. 
     
     
         30 . A paper forming mixture of  claim 27 , wherein the carbonate enhancing composition is substantially free of solids.