| 摘要 |
<p>ABSORBENT VEGETABLE MATERIAL AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME Disclosed are highly absorbent materials derived from agricultural waste materials comprising at least 15% pectin wherein said absorbent material comprises from about 15% to about 60% pectin, the pectin having a degree of esterification of from about 1% to about 45% and less than about 50% of the pectin being in the form of a divalent metal salt; from about 15% to about 80% of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and mixtures thereof, from 0% to about 1% chloroform soluble lipids; from 0% to about 10% non-lipid organic materials extractable in a mixture of chloroform, methanol and water in a volume ratio of 20:4:1, respectively; and from 0% to about 6% water-soluble metal salts. Also disclosed is a process for preparing the highly absorbent material from the pectin-containing starting material which comprises reducing the degree of esterification of the pectin followed by removal of excessive amounts of water extractables. When said absorbent material is to be used in consumer products like disposable diapers, sanitary napkins and the like it is desirable to bleach the absorbent material. Bleaching of said absorbent material is done subsequent to deesterification.</p> |
