Odor Control Fluff Pulp via Copper Ion Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellulose pulps used in personal care and medical care absorbent products, such as diapers and incontinence articles, suffer from odor issues caused by body fluids, particularly ammonia odor from urine, which existing technologies have not effectively addressed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating low amounts of copper ions into bleached kraft fibers, along with optional iron ions, during the treatment of lignocellulosic materials using an oxidizing agent, results in fluff pulps with enhanced odor control properties, significantly reducing ammonia formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional bleached kraft fibers are used without copper ions, then the manufacturing process is simple and成本低, but the odor control performance is insufficient and ammonia formation is not effectively inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing copper ions at specific concentrations (0.01-100 ppm) during the bleaching process to transform the chemical composition of the pulp. This modification changes the pulp's ability to inhibit ammonia formation, achieving superior odor control without fundamentally altering the manufacturing process structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Copper ions serve as an intermediary substance that mediates between the oxidizing agents and the lignocellulosic material. The copper ions facilitate the oxidation process while simultaneously providing odor control functionality, acting as a bridge that achieves multiple objectives through a single additive.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high amounts of copper ions are added to improve odor control, then ammonia formation is strongly inhibited, but the cost increases and potential toxicity concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the copper ion concentration parameter to a specific range (0.01-100 ppm) that achieves effective ammonia formation inhibition while avoiding excessive copper content. This parameter optimization balances performance requirements with cost and safety considerations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using low concentrations of copper ions (0.01-100 ppm) rather than high amounts. This partial application is sufficient to achieve the desired odor control effect while minimizing costs and potential toxicity, demonstrating that complete or excessive addition is not necessary.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional oxidizing agents alone are used for treating lignocellulosic material, then the process is simple, but the resulting pulp has insufficient odor control properties and high ammonia formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of odor control and oxidation by combining copper ions with traditional oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide, sodium chlorite, or ozone) in a single treatment process. This combination achieves both odor control and effective delignification/bleaching simultaneously, rather than requiring separate treatment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper ion additive provides multi-functionality by simultaneously serving as an odor control agent and enhancing the oxidation process. This single additive performs multiple functions that would otherwise require separate treatment steps, reducing overall process complexity while improving performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fluff pulps exhibit at least 50% greater inhibiting effect on ammonia formation compared to untreated pulps, demonstrating improved odor control through increased absorption and prevention of nitrogen-containing compounds conversion.
Implementation Method 1
treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid
Implementation Method 2
treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid
Implementation Method 3
The fluff pulps exhibit at least 50% greater inhibiting effect on ammonia formation compared to untreated pulps, demonstrating improved odor control through increased absorption and prevention of nitrogen-containing compounds conversion
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology is directed to fluff pulps with improved odor control as well as methods of making such fluff pulps. A fluff pulp is provided that includes a bleached kraft fiber and a copper ion content from about 0.2 ppm to about 50 ppm by weight of the bleached kraft fiber. The bleached kraft fiber includes a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about 2 mm, a copper number of less than about 7, a carboxyl content of more than about 3.5 meq/100 grams; an ISO brightness of at least 80; and a viscosity from about 2 cps to about 9 cps.