Abstract: Alkali metal and ammonium salts of crosslinked phosphonoalkyl cellulose are described which have a phosphorous content of from about 1.5% to about 4.0% by weight and a degree of crosslinking sufficient to make the modified cellulose salts essentially insoluble in aqueous media. These crosslinked phosphonoalkyl cellulose salts have significantly increased fluid absorption capacities as compared to unmodified cellulose and may be incorporated alone or in combination with other absorbent materials into catamenial tampons, sanitary napkins, diapers, and like absorbent devices.

Abstract: An absorbent body is provided for use in such products as catamenial napkins and tampons, diapers, wound dressings and the like, which body incorporates hydrophilic, wet resilient, swellable, cellulosic fibers produced by a single reaction treatment of cellulose. The cellulose fibers are treated with an agent which renders the fibers hydrophilic while simultaneously crosslinking them with a crosslinking radical having the structure: ##EQU1## where X is chosen from the group consisting of H or COOY: Y is chosen from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Ce or H; and k, m and n are integers ranging from 0 to 4.

Abstract: Dry crosslinked, fibrous cellulosic absorbent material having low hemicellulose content and low knot content, the fibers being internally crosslinked for the major part and being relatively free of intercrosslinking with adjacent fibers.