Process for producing hygienized pulp

A process for producing hygienized pulp, the process comprising providing cellulosic fiber;

• forming a fiber suspension having an original endospore amount of >1000 CFU/ml comprising the cellulosic fiber in a pulping stage;
• removing impurities from the fiber suspension in a screening stage for producing purified fiber suspension;
• subjecting the purified fiber suspension to a thickening stage;
• followed by
• (i) adjusting pH of the fiber suspension to a pH value of <6.5,
• (ii) adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the fiber suspension to an ORP value of >200 m V with a first oxidizing agent,
• (iii) introducing an amount of performic acid as a second oxidizing agent to the fiber suspension for reducing amount of the endospores in the fiber suspension;
• forming a web of the fiber suspension on a wire, and
• pressing and drying the web for obtaining dry pulp having bacterial endospore amount <1000 CFU/g of the dry pulp, preferably <50 CFU/g of the dry pulp,
• wherein the process is substantially free of using functional chemistries, such as strength chemistries and hydrophobation chemistries, preferably free of using functional chemistries, such as strength chemistries and hydrophobation chemistries.