Method for inhibiting the growth of microbes with a modified cellulose fiber

摘要

A method of inhibiting the growth of bacteria in an absorbent device by using kraft pulp fiber subjected to an acidic, catalyzed peroxide treatment process incorporated into a single stage of a multi-stage bleaching process.

主权项

1. A method of inhibiting the growth of microbes in an absorbent device comprising: providing an absorbent device comprising at least one absorbent portion and including within the at least one absorbent portion of the device kraft pulp fiber that has been bleached according to a multi-stage bleaching process, wherein at least one stage of the process comprises oxidizing the Kraft pulp fiber with at least one peroxide and at least one catalyst under acidic conditions, wherein the at least one oxidizing stage is followed by at least one bleaching stage, and wherein the ISO brightness of the kraft pulp fiber at the end of the multi-stage bleaching process comprising the at least one oxidizing stage is at least about 88, wherein the kraft pulp fiber exhibits a hemicellulose content from about 16% to about 25%, an aldehyde content ranging from about 1 meq/100 g to about 9 meq/100 g, and a carboxyl content of at least about 3 meq/100 g, and wherein the kraft pulp fiber does not comprise an optical brightening agent.