Abstract: A method of producing levulinic acid from biomass is described. The method includes two acid treatment steps: first, treating biomass with a first aqueous acidic solution at a pH, for a time, and temperature such that at least a portion of pentosans contained within the biomass is extracted from the biomass, to yield pentosan-extracted biomass; second, treating the pentosan-extracted biomass with a second aqueous acidic solution at a pH, for a time, and a temperature, such that at least a portion of hexosans contained within the pentosan-extracted biomass are converted to levulinic acid.

Abstract: Sheet-like products, such as tissue products, are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. The additive composition can improve various properties of the sheet-like product. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition can reduce lint and increase softness.

Abstract: Wiping products are disclosed containing an additive composition that enhances the cleaning properties of the product. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid.

Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web and/or improve the perceived softness of the web.

Abstract: Wiping products are disclosed containing an additive composition that enhances the cleaning properties of the product. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid.

Abstract: Wiping products are disclosed comprising a sheet and an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the sheet by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the sheet. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the sheet after the sheet has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the sheet as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the sheet and/or improve the perceived softness of the sheet.

Abstract: Sheet-like products, such as tissue products, are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web and/or improve the perceived softness of the web.

Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. After the additive composition is applied to the web or otherwise incorporated into the tissue web, the tissue web is embossed. During embossing, the additive composition forms well defined embossments in the web that are water resistant.

Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web without substantially affecting the perceived softness of the web in an adverse manner.

Abstract: Premoistened wiping products are disclosed. The premoistened wiping products contain one or more wetlaid tissue webs. The tissue webs may contain an additive composition which includes a thermoplastic resin. Once the additive composition is applied to the web, the web is embossed forming liquid resistant embossments. The embossments also form bond areas that can bond multiple plies of the tissue webs together. Once embossed, the one or more tissue webs are then contacted with a wiping solution in order to form the premoistened product.

Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web without substantially affecting the perceived softness of the web in an adverse manner.

Abstract: Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web without substantially affecting the perceived softness of the web in an adverse manner.

Abstract: A paper product includes fibers, such as cellulosic fibers, that are pre-treated with a softening agent. The softening agent is added to a fiber slurry and then is allowed to cure onto the fibers, typically by drying. The pre-treated fibers are then diluted, re-slurried, and incorporated into the fiber stream of a paper machine to form a fibrous web. The fibrous web can then be converted into a paper product, such as a personal care paper product, which exhibits improved softness with minimized slough.

Abstract: A thermoplastic complex comprises an emulsified hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer and a complexing agent. The thermoplastic complex can formed by pre-mixing an emulsified hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer with a complexing agent to form a paste-like complex. The thermoplastic complex can then be dispersed in a water-fiber suspension in the wet-end section of a tissuemaking process. The fibers in the water-fiber suspension retain a substantial amount of the complex. A fibrous web can be formed comprising the treated fibers, which can then be converted into a tissue product that exhibits improved softness with minimized slough.

Abstract: Fibrous products containing a durable softening agent are disclosed. The softening agent generally comprises a polysiloxane containing a plurality of first functional groups. In order to improve the wet retention of the softening agent on cellulosic fibers, the softening agent is reacted with a retention agent. The retention agent generally comprises a cationic polymer having a second functional group. In one embodiment, for instance, the softening agent contains epoxy groups or anhydride groups, while the retention agent contains amine groups. Products that may be made according to the present invention include tissue products, wipes and other absorbent articles.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a fibrous structure that may comprise: cellulosic pulp fibers and pretreated cellulosic pulp fibers. The pretreated cellulosic pulp fiber is formed by pretreating cellulosic pulp fiber with a thermoplastic resin having a property selected from the group consisting essentially of water soluble, water dispersible, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wet wipe product. The wet wipe product comprises a fibrous substrate and a triggerable binder formulation. The triggerable binder formulation is capable of binding the fibers in the fibrous substrate. The triggerable binder formulation may include acrylamide polymers, vinylamide/amine polymers, and mixtures. The triggerable binder formulation is insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolubilizing agent but is dispersible in disposal water.

Abstract: An absorbent core comprising fluff pulp fiber treated with polysiloxane, wherein the absorbent core has a density of about 0.15 g/cm3 or greater and a Young's modulus of about 75 psi or less. The polsiloxane may comprise an amino-functional moiety. The absorbent core may comprise superabsorbent, and may be employed in a disposable absorbent product.

Abstract: Textile materials, including paper webs, treated with a polyvinylamine polymer and a second agent that interacts with the polyvinylamine polymer is disclosed. The second agent added with the polyvinylamine polymer can be, for instance, a polymeric anionic reactive compound or a polymeric aldehyde-functional compound. When incorporated into a paper web, the combination of the polyvinylamine polymer and the second agent provide improved strength properties, such as wet strength properties. In an alternative embodiment, the polyvinylamine polymer and the second polymer can be applied to a textile material for increasing the affinity of the textile material for acid dyes.

Abstract: Textile materials, including paper webs, treated with a polyvinylamine polymer and a second agent that interacts with the polyvinylamine polymer is disclosed. The second agent added with the polyvinylamine polymer can be, for instance, a polymeric anionic reactive compound or a polymeric aldehyde-functional compound. When incorporated into a paper web, the combination of the polyvinylamine polymer and the second agent provide improved strength properties, such as wet strength properties. In an alternative embodiment, the polyvinylamine polymer and the second polymer can be applied to a textile material for increasing the affinity of the textile material for acid dyes.