GB2320036A - Increasing absorbency of cotton - Google Patents
Increasing absorbency of cotton Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2320036A GB2320036A GB9725478A GB9725478A GB2320036A GB 2320036 A GB2320036 A GB 2320036A GB 9725478 A GB9725478 A GB 9725478A GB 9725478 A GB9725478 A GB 9725478A GB 2320036 A GB2320036 A GB 2320036A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cotton
- alcohol
- alcoholic medium
- heated
- absorbency
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
- A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
- A61L15/20—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing organic materials
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L15/00—Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads
- A61L15/16—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons
- A61L15/40—Bandages, dressings or absorbent pads for physiological fluids such as urine or blood, e.g. sanitary towels, tampons containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof, e.g. plant or animal extracts
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
- D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
- D06M13/10—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing oxygen
- D06M13/144—Alcohols; Metal alcoholates
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
- D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
- D06M13/10—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing oxygen
- D06M13/144—Alcohols; Metal alcoholates
- D06M13/148—Polyalcohols, e.g. glycerol or glucose
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
- D06M2101/00—Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
- D06M2101/02—Natural fibres, other than mineral fibres
- D06M2101/04—Vegetal fibres
- D06M2101/06—Vegetal fibres cellulosic
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Emergency Medicine (AREA)
- Botany (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
Abstract
A method of treating cotton to increase the absorbency i.e. moisture and liquid take up by treating with an alcohol. The treated cotton is suitable for absorbent applications such as bandages. In one embodiment propan-2-ol is used as the alcohol.
Description
TREATMENT OF COTTON
The invention relates to a method for the treatment of cotton to increase its absorbency, i.e. moisture and liquid take up properties.
The absorbency of cotton fibres is very important in relation to medical end-use applications such as bandages, swabs, incontinence pads and feminine hygiene products, since these must exhibit high absorption capabilities. Advances in processing and scientific knowledge has meant that cotton, which was once the predominant fibre within such applications is now experiencing increased competition from man-made alternatives within this product range. As a consequence of this it has been recognised as desirable to develop a method for increasing the absorption of bleached cotton which can be industrially reproducible and which can be compatible with present techniques used for scouring and bleaching the cotton.
Previous experimental methods which have sought to improve the absorption of cotton have involved the techniques of swelling/decrystallisation and carboxymethylation of the cotton fibre.
Decrystallisation techniques involve the use of swelling agents, a number of which are regarded as harmful, especially in high concentrations.
Since the cotton fibre is to be used in a medical environment, it is therefore paramount that any of these agents be completely expelled from the fibre after preparation. The process of ensuring explusion of these agents from the fibre involves the use of a number of chemicals. As a result of such use decrystallisation methods are not a particularly commercially viable option, especially since very high concentrations are required to bring about an adequate increase in absorption. A further important drawback with this method, is the poor quality of whiteness of cotton produced. This lack in quality of whiteness means the end product may not be acceptable as a bleached fibre.
Techniques involving carboxymethylation of cotton fibre alone do not specifically increase the absorption of cotton fibre. However, a technique similar to that developed for the preparation of carboxymethylcellulose pulps for use in paper making, has been used. This work involved the carboxymethylation of cotton fibre under alcoholic conditions. The work produced large increases in the absorption of the cotton, however, the process was time consuming and involved a number of chemicals which caused problems for disposal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective method of increasing the absorbency, i.e. moisture and liquid take up of cotton which is suitable for use after standard preparation techniques have been conducted upon the cotton.
According to the present invention there is provided a method for the treatment of cotton to increase its absorbency i.e. moisture and liquid take up, comprising exposing the cotton to an alcoholic medium.
The term moisture here is taken to refer to any fluid or liquid and may include any oil based fluid or aqueous solution or dispersion, for example, a body fluid, cleaning solutions, etc. However, the term moisture is not limited to the above examples.
With this method the absorption of cotton fibre can be significantly increased, and this can be achieved without involving the need to alter standard scouring and bleaching techniques. The method can also be cost effective, in that it need not require any specialist drying techniques and also need not involve the use of any additional chemicals. Degradation of the cellulose structure of the cotton can be avoided or minimised.
Absorbency i.e. moisture and liquid take up can be increased to a surprising extent with the method of the invention. The mechanism for this is not fully understood.
The cotton may be immersed in a bath of alcohol or may be positioned in a stream of alcohol vapour, whereby the alcohol may pass through and over the cotton.
The alcohol may be a primary alcohol, for example an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol.
Secondary alcohols such as propan-2-ol and also more complex alcohols such as ethandiol, cyclohexanol, glycerol may be used. A particularly preferred alcohol is propan-2-ol.
The alcohol treatment may be effected with only one alcohol, or it may be effected with a mixture of one alcohol with one or more other alcohols and/or any other substance. Particularly with a view to facilitating drying, water may be wholly or substantially excluded.
Whilst a 100% alcoholic medium is preferred, it is possible to use an aqueous alcoholic medium and the alcohol content of this may be in the range of say 20-80%.
The alcohol may be heated and may be maintained at atmospheric pressure. In a preferred embodiment it will be boiling at atmospheric pressure. However, other conditions or combinations of conditions may also be used.
Thus, for example, the cotton may be soaked in the alcoholic medium at room temperature and/or heated for a period of time at a temperature below boiling point and/or heated to boiling point and maintained boiling for a period of time e.g. in reflux conditions. For example, in the case of an alcoholic medium which boils at 100 C, a temperature may be used in the range 2--80"C instead of or additional to heating to boiling point.
In a preferred embodiment the cotton is exposed to the alcohol for between five and thirty five minutes, preferably between ten and thirty minutes. Most preferably a time of ten to twenty minutes is used.
Most preferably, prior to treatment with the alcoholic medium the cotton is subjected to one or more standard treatments such as scouring, bleaching and rinsing, although it may even be possible to apply the technique to grey fibres.
The method of the invention is preferably performed in place of conventional swelling/decrystallisation or carboxymethylation techniques as discussed above whereby the method of the invention is the sole technique used for absorbency enhancement. However it may be possible to use the method of the invention after such known techniques.
The treated cotton may be dried after exposing it to the alcohol, by squeezing it and leaving it in a warm environment in which the remaining alcohol on the cotton will vaporize.
The treatment may be applied to cotton in any suitable form constituting individual fibres or filaments or made up materials. In a preferred embodiment it is applied to a fibre batt.
Various applications for the cotton treated as described above include products requiring high absorbency such as medical products for example, bandages, swabs, incontinence pads and feminine hygiene products and cosmetic products, for example, facial cleansing pads.
The invention will now be described further in the following Example, in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of all the stages involved in treating the cotton;
Fig.2 is a diagrammatic representation of the method of the invention, which increases the absorbency i.e. moisture and liquid take up properties of the cotton.
A cotton fibre batt that has undergone a standard scouring and bleaching process as shown in Fig.1 is placed within an alcohol bath as illustrated in Fig.2. The alcohol within the bath is propan-2-ol, which has the added advantage of having sterilisation properties, which are preferable in medical end-use applications. The bath contains no other substance.
The bath is then heated and the propan-2-ol is boiled for ten minutes under reflux conditions so that the batt is saturated with the alcohol.
After the cotton fibre has been immersed in the boiling propan-2-ol for ten minutes, it is removed from the alcohol bath and squeezed. In this way any remaining propan-2-ol is expelled from the fibre. The fibre is then dried in a contamination free environment. Any remaining propan-2-ol left on the fibre will then be vaporized.
With the method described above, the moisture and liquid absorption of cotton fibre can be increased inexpensively, while at the same time sterilising the product. The method does not also require the need to alter standard preparation techniques and does not involve any additional chemicals.
The above process was repeated with other alcohols and also, for comparison, a control sample of cotton scoured with sodium hydroxide, bleached with hydrogen peroxide and rinsed with water. This is the conventional bleaching routine.
The results are shown in the following table:
Absorbency control 9.27 methanol 9.59 ethanol 10.02 propanol 10.25 butanol 10.19 propan-2-ol 10.23 ethandiol 10.23 cyclohexanol 10.25 glycerol 9.94
In each case the cotton sample was boiled for thirty minutes and then water rinsed and oven dried. Water absorbency was determined on a "demand absorption capacity" basis i.e. total absorptive capacity in grammes of water per gramme of sample, as measured on a demand wettability apparatus where fibre is exposed to a negative pressure gradient and a pressure load.
Rinsing is used to remove alcohol to avoid complications in medical application but may not be necessary.
Propanol shows a high level of absorbency enhancement which was not exceeded by alcohols of a more complex structure. Propan-2-ol also gives good results and is advantageous e.g. due to sterilisation and other properties.
The invention is not limited to the details of the above described example and many variations and modifications are possible.
Claims (27)
1. A method for the treatment of cotton to increase its absorbency i.e.
moisture and liquid take up, comprising exposing the cotton to an alcoholic medium.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which the cotton is immersed in a bath of alcohol.
3. A method according to claim 1 in which the cotton is positioned in a stream of alcohol vapour.
4. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alcohol is a primary alcohol.
5. A method according to claim 4 in which the alcohol is a primary alcohol selected from a group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol.
6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the alcohol is a secondary alcohol.
7. A method according to claim 6 in which the secondary alcohol is propan-2-ol.
8. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alcohol is a complex alcohol.
9. A method according to claim 8 in which the alcohol is selected from a group consisting of ethandiol, cyclohexanol, glycerol.
10. A method according to any preceding claim in which the treatment is effected with a mixture of alcohols.
11. A method according to any preceding claim in which water is wholly excluded from the treatment.
12. A method according to any preceding claim in which an aqueous alcoholic medium is used.
13. A method according to claim 12 in which the alcohol content of the aqueous alcoholic medium used is in the range 20%-80%.
14. A method according to any preceding claim in which the cotton is soaked in the alcoholic medium at room temperature.
15. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alcohol is heated and maintained at atmospheric pressure.
16. A method according to claim 15 in which the alcoholic medium is heated to a temperature below boiling point.
17. A method according to claim 15 in which the alcoholic medium is heated to boiling point.
18. A method according to claim 17 in which the alcoholic medium is heated to boiling point under reflux conditions.
19. A method according to any preceding claim in which the cotton is exposed to the alcohol for a period of between 5 and 35 minutes.
20. A method according to any of claims 1 to 18 in which the cotton is exposed to the alcohol for a period of between 10 and 30 minutes.
21. A method according to any of claims 1 to 18 in which the cotton is exposed to the alcohol for a period of between 10 and 20 minutes.
22. A method according to any preceding claim further comprising the steps of:
1) squeezing the cotton;
2) leaving the cotton in a warm environment while remaining
alcohol on the cotton vaporises.
23. A method according to any preceding claim in which the cotton is a fibre batt.
24. A method according to any preceding claim in which the cotton is a grey fibre.
25. A method according to any of claims 1 to 23 in which the cotton has been subjected to one or more standard treatments of scouring, bleaching and rinsing.
26. A method according to any preceding claim in which the cotton is in the form of a made-up material.
27. A product comprising cotton fibres which have been treated to increase the absorbency i.e. moisture and liquid take up by exposing the cotton fibres to an alcoholic medium, the product being a bandage, swab, incontinence pad or a feminine hygiene product.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9625123.6A GB9625123D0 (en) | 1996-12-03 | 1996-12-03 | Treatment of cotton |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9725478D0 GB9725478D0 (en) | 1998-01-28 |
| GB2320036A true GB2320036A (en) | 1998-06-10 |
Family
ID=10803865
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9625123.6A Pending GB9625123D0 (en) | 1996-12-03 | 1996-12-03 | Treatment of cotton |
| GB9725478A Withdrawn GB2320036A (en) | 1996-12-03 | 1997-12-03 | Increasing absorbency of cotton |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9625123.6A Pending GB9625123D0 (en) | 1996-12-03 | 1996-12-03 | Treatment of cotton |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB9625123D0 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111249514A (en) * | 2020-02-09 | 2020-06-09 | 史万和 | Medical cotton ball treatment facility |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1408787A (en) * | 1970-10-20 | 1975-10-08 | Henkel & Cie Gmbh | Washing after-treatment compositions |
| US3960484A (en) * | 1973-02-14 | 1976-06-01 | Herberlein Textildruck Ag | Process and apparatus for improving the fiber structure of textile material containing cellulose fibers |
| EP0292909A2 (en) * | 1987-05-26 | 1988-11-30 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Composition and method for removal of wrinkles in fabrics |
| US4832751A (en) * | 1987-07-01 | 1989-05-23 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Method for reduction of endotoxin in cotton lint or dust |
| EP0378800A2 (en) * | 1988-12-16 | 1990-07-25 | Henkel KGaA | Method for the alkaline cleaning of cellulosic textile materials |
| WO1995006154A1 (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1995-03-02 | Reckitt & Colman Inc. | Ironing aid composition |
-
1996
- 1996-12-03 GB GBGB9625123.6A patent/GB9625123D0/en active Pending
-
1997
- 1997-12-03 GB GB9725478A patent/GB2320036A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1408787A (en) * | 1970-10-20 | 1975-10-08 | Henkel & Cie Gmbh | Washing after-treatment compositions |
| US3960484A (en) * | 1973-02-14 | 1976-06-01 | Herberlein Textildruck Ag | Process and apparatus for improving the fiber structure of textile material containing cellulose fibers |
| EP0292909A2 (en) * | 1987-05-26 | 1988-11-30 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Composition and method for removal of wrinkles in fabrics |
| US4832751A (en) * | 1987-07-01 | 1989-05-23 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture | Method for reduction of endotoxin in cotton lint or dust |
| EP0378800A2 (en) * | 1988-12-16 | 1990-07-25 | Henkel KGaA | Method for the alkaline cleaning of cellulosic textile materials |
| WO1995006154A1 (en) * | 1993-08-23 | 1995-03-02 | Reckitt & Colman Inc. | Ironing aid composition |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111249514A (en) * | 2020-02-09 | 2020-06-09 | 史万和 | Medical cotton ball treatment facility |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9725478D0 (en) | 1998-01-28 |
| GB9625123D0 (en) | 1997-01-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |