Processes to produce short cut microfibers

A process for separating an opened microfiber slurry, said process comprising:

• (A) routing said opened microfiber slurry comprising water non-dispersible polymer microfiber, water dispersible sulfopolyester, and water to a primary solid liquid separation zone to produce a microfiber product stream and a first mother liquor stream;
• wherein said first mother liquor stream comprises water and a water dispersible sulfopolyester;
• and wherein said microfiber has a length of less than 25 mm and a minimum transverse dimension of less than 10 microns;
• (B) separating said first mother liquor stream in a second solid liquid separation zone to produce a secondary wet cake stream and a second mother liquor stream;
• wherein said second mother liquor stream comprises water and water dispersible sulfopolyester;
• wherein the amount of said water dispersible sulfopolyester in said second mother liquor ranges from about 0.01 weight % to about 7 weight %;
• and wherein said secondary wet cake stream comprises water non-dispersible polymer microfiber;
• and
• (C) routing said second mother liquor stream to a primary concentration zone to produce a primary polymer concentrate stream and a primary recovered water stream.