Improving the Quality of Cellulose for Use in Disposable Sanitary and Hygiene Products

Abstract

Under modern conditions the creation of materials for sanitary hygiene and medical products based on cellulose is of paramount importance. Development and improvement in this area has become particularly relevant in the context of viral epidemics, including the COVID 19 pandemic. The production of disposable non-woven materials for sanitary and medical purposes has imposed a number of specific requirements on cellulosic raw materials used for their production including the content of impurities. The content of organochlorine compounds in the pulp is determined mainly by the bleaching technology. With the new bleaching technology, which includes ozonation and treatment with hydrogen peroxide, it is possible to minimize this content. An improved method for determination of the total chlorine and organically bound chlorine contents in cellulosic materials was developed on the basis of ISO 11480:2017. The method essentially involves the absorption of gaseous chlorine formed during the combustion process by an electrolyte and measurement of the amount of chloride ions by microcoulometric titration with determination of their mass in a recording device. The method is highly reliable and makes it possible to determine concentrations in the range of 1-1000 mg/kg.