Process for preparing reduced odor and improved brightness individualized, polycarboxylic acid crosslinked fibers

A process for preparing reduced odor, individualized, polycarboxylic acid crosslinked cellulosic fibers, said process comprising the steps of:

• a. providing cellulosic fibers;
• b. contacting said fibers with a solution containing an effective amount of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent, wherein said C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) aliphatic and alicyclic C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids either olefinically saturated or unsaturated and having at least three carboxyl groups per molecule;
• and
• (ii) aliphatic and alicyclic C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acids having two carboxyl groups per molecule and having a carbon--carbon double bond located alpha, beta to one or both of the carboxyl groups,
• wherein one carboxyl group in said C.sub.2 -C.sub.9 polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent is separated from a second carboxyl group by either two or three carbon atoms,
• c. mechanically separating said fibers into substantially individual form;
• d. drying said fibers and reacting said crosslinking agent with said fibers to form crosslink bonds while said fibers are in substantially individual form, to form intrafiber crosslink bonds, wherein said crosslinked fibers have a pH less than 5;
• and
• e. raising the pH of the crosslinked fibers to at least 5 by contacting said crosslinked fibers with an alkaline solution.