Abstract: Enzymes are immobilized on a solid support material containing essentially cellulose and lignin by a process involving oxidation of the support to provide aldehyde groups, amination of the oxidized support by reacting a diamine with the aldehyde groups, reduction of the aminated support to produce stabilized aminated groups, activation of the aminated groups by reacting the groups with a dialdehyde and immobilization of an enzyme by covalent coupling of the enzyme to the activated groups of the support. The enzyme may be invertase and the immobilized invertase can be used to treat a sugar syrup.

Abstract: A process for feeding defibrators with sheet pulp delivered in batches. Rectangular sheets are deposited one behind another on a feed belt with their longitudinal axis offset by 45.degree. with respect to the direction of advance of the belt, whereupon two equal lateral parts from each sheet are folded back along two folding lines parallel to the direction of advance of the belt, the distance e between said lines being equal to l/.sqroot.2 and two consecutive sheets being mutually apart by x=L/.sqroot.2, L and l, respectively, being the length and the width of the pulp sheet. Feeding a machine for diapers.

Abstract: Fastener means for disposable diapers comprising a band or strip of material folded in the shape of an "S" comprising a first end zone, a central zone, and a second end zone; at least the central zone being elastic and the side of the second zone facing the central zone being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive which in turn is covered with a protective material which in turn is connected to the central zone by a continuous or discontinuous row of glue parallel to the S-fold of the fastener. The fastener can be easily manufactured on an industrial scale; can be conveniently affixed to a diaper during the manufacture of the diaper; permits convenient fastening of the front and rear parts of a disposable diaper, and accommodates for the movements of a baby wearing the diaper.

Abstract: The invention is directed to cross-linked cellulose fibers wherein cellulose pulp is fluffed, aerated, and exposed to a reaction mixture comprising formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and formic acid as finely divided droplets or vapors. The thus treated fibers are cured by subjecting the fibers to a hot air stream at a temperature of from about 180.degree.-200.degree. C. for a duration of a few seconds, followed by separation of the fibers from the gaseous effluents. The procedure which lasts less than about one minute provides cellulose fibers cross-linked with formaldehyde wherein the predominant amount of cross-linking occurs at the surface of the fibers rather than at the core of the fibers. The fibers have improved characteristics including flexibility, touch and feel, rendering the fibers highly useful in paper products.

Abstract: Fibrous structures in sheet form having from 10% to 90% by weight of pulp of cellulosic fibers cross-linked with formaldehyde, the predominant cross-linking being at the surface area of said fibers and in an amount sufficient to impart flexibility and softness to said fibers while retaining high water absorptivity, and 90% to 10% by weight of an additional binding product with the amount of the additional binding product being selected to ensure sufficient strength and cohesion to the structure of the sheet. The inclusion of the cellulosic fibers wherein the predominant amount of cross-linking is at the surface area of the fibers imparts excellent water absorptiveness to the fibrous structure and, in addition, provides good flexibility and touch and feel properties to the product.

Abstract: Extrusion-die system comprising an extrusion slit (3) fed upstream by two flows of polymeric materials, one of which issues from one or several flat conduits (7,8), the other from a multitude of small holes (18) drilled into a bar element of generally T-shaped cross-section (5). The cross-section of element (5) has a punch-like configuration with the holes being fashioned therein in two parallel rows and being staggered from one row to the other. The die system permits manufacture of products comprising a network of threads or filaments sheathed in a film or foil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cross-linking cellulose with formaldehyde. The pulp is fluffed, aerated and exposed to a reaction mixture comprising formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and formic acid as finely divided droplets or vapors. The wetted fibers are then cured in a hot air stream at 180.degree. C during a few seconds and separated from the gaseous effluents. The whole procedure lasts less than 1 minute.