Copper-modified carboxyalkyl-cellulose fiber

Claim 2

A modified fibrous material consisting essentially of viscose fibers modified by anionic moieties of the general formula: --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --COO.sup.(-) ; wherein n is from 1 to 3; which anionic moieties are each attached through an oxygen atom to a viscose anhydroglucose unit; wherein sufficient of said anionic moieties are present, and sufficient of said present anionic moieties are capped by copper cations, that said viscose fibers bind from about 0.1 to 3.0% by weight of copper, based on the weight of said fibers.

Claim 3

The modified fibrous material of claim 1 wherein the degree of substitution of said fiber by said anionic moiety is about 0.01 to 0.3.

Claim 4

The modified fibrous material of claim 1 wherein the bound copper content is about 0.2 to 2.0% by weight, based on the weight of said fibers.

Claim 5

The modified fibrous material of claim 1 wherein the bound copper content is about 0.6 to 1.6% by weight, based on the weight of said fibers.

Claim 6

The modified fibrous material of claim 2 wherein the bound copper content is about 0.2 to 2.0% by weight, based on the weight of said fibers.

Claim 7

The modified fibrous material of claim 2 wherein

Claim 8

The fibrous material of claim 1, having a fiber pH of about 4 to 5.

Claim 9

The fibrous material of claim 5, having a fiber pH of about 4 to 5.

Claim 10

The fibrous material of claim 6, having a fiber pH of about 4 to 5.

Claim 11

The fibrous material of claim 1, having a water retention capacity of more than 80%.

Claim 12

The fibrous material of claim 7, having a water retnetion capacity of more than 80%.

Claim 13

The fibrous material of claim 8, having a water retention capacity of more than 80%.

Claim 14

The fibrous material of claim 9, having a water retention capacity of more than 80%.

Claim 15

The modified fibrous material of claim 7 wherein said carboxyalkyl anions are carboxymethyl.

Claim 16

The modified fibrous material of claim 2 wherein said carboxyalkyl anions are carboxymethyl.

Claim 17

The modified fibrous material of claim 1 consisting essentially of viscose fibers uniformly modified by carboxymethyl anions, having a water retention capacity of approximately 200% and a degree of substitution of about 0.10.

Claim 18

A process for producing a modified fibrous material consisting essentially of viscose fibers substituted at their viscose anhydroglucose units by anionic moieties of the general formula: (CH 2 ) n --COO.sup.(-) ; where n is from 1 to 3; and capped by copper cations to the extent that said viscose fibers bind from about 0.1 to about 3.0% by weight of copper, based on the weight of said fibers; said process comprising: treating viscose fibers uniformly substituted by said anionic moieties in their free acid form, with an aqueous solution of at least one cupric salt, in the absence of heat, for a period of about 1 to 60 minutes; washing said treated fibers with water until substantially all unreacted cupric salts and ion-exhange by-products are removed; and drying said treated fibrous material.

Claim 19

A process for producing a modified fibrous material consisting essentially of viscose fibers substituted at their viscose anhydroglucose units by anionic moieties of the general formula: (CH 2 ) n --COO.sup.(-) ; where n is from 1 to 3; and capped by copper cations to the extent that said viscose fibers bind from about 0.1 to about 3.0% by weight of copper, based on the weight of said fibers; said process comprising: treating viscose fibers uniformly substituted by said anionic moieties in their free acid form, with an aqueous solution of at least one cupric salt, in the absence of heat, for a period of about 1 to 60 minutes; washing said treated fibers with water until substantially all unreacted cupric salts and ion-exhange by-products are removed; and drying said treated fibrous material.

Claim 20

A process for producing a modified fibrous material consisting essentially of viscose fibers substituted at their cellulose anhydroglucose units by anionic moieties of the general formula: --(CH 2 ) n --COO.sup.(-) ; where n is from 1 to 3; and capped by copper cations to the extent that said viscose fibers bind from about 0.1 to about 3.0% by weight of copper, based on the weight of said fibers; said process comprising: treating viscose fibers uniformly substituted by said anionic moieties in the form of their alkali salts with sufficient acid to substantially convert said salts to their free acid form; further treating said viscose fibers with an aqueous solution of at least one cupric salt, in the absence of heat, for a period of about 1 to 60 minutes; washing said treated fibers with water until substantially all unreacted cupric salts, acid, and ion-exchange by-products are removed; and drying said treated fibrous material.

Claim 21

A process for producing a modified fibrous material consisting essentially of viscose fibers substituted at their cellulose anhydroglucose units by anionic moieties of the general formula: --(CH 2 ) n --COO.sup.(-) ; where n is from 1 to 3; and capped by copper cations to the extent that said viscose fibers bind from about 0.1 to about 3.0% by weight of copper, based on the weight of said fibers; said process comprising: treating viscose fibers uniformly substituted by said anionic moieties in the form of their alkali salts with sufficient acid to substantially convert said salts to their free acid form; further treating said viscose fibers with an aqueous solution of at least one cupric salt, in the absence of heat, for a period of about 1 to 60 minutes; washing said treated fibers with water until substantially all unreacted cupric salts, acid, and ion-exchange by-products are removed; and drying said treated fibrous material.

Claim 22

The process of claim 17 wherein: said substituted viscose fibers are carboxymethyl cellulose having a degree of substitution of about 0.01 to 0.3; and said cupric salt is cupric sulfate in an aqueous solution of from about 1 to 20 g/l.

Claim 23

The process of claim 18 wherein: said substituted viscose fibers are carboxymethyl cellulose having a degree of substitution of about 0.01 to 0.3; and said cupric salt is cupric sulfate in an aqueous solution of from about 1 to 20 g/l.

Claim 24

The process of claim 19 wherein said cupric sulfate solution is adjusted to a pH of about 4 to 5 before said treatment.

Claim 25

The process of claim 20 wherein said cupric sulfate solution is adjusted to a pH of about 4 to 5 before said treatment.