This invention provides a dried singulated crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber
product as well as an apparatus and a method for forming singulated, crosslinked,
and dried fibers. In accordance with the process, a feed pulp containing a crosslinker
is delivered to a jet drier. The jet drier singulates and dries the feed pulp.
The singulated and dried fibers are collected from the jet drier. The feed pulp
may be further treated with a treatment substance. The jet drier may be maintained
at negative pressure. The product fibers may have low knot count, a low fines count,
as well improved kink, curl and twist. The apparatus for carrying out the process
may include a pretreatment station for supplying the treatment substance, a pulp
feed device designed for pulp, a pulp feed device designed for pulp and foam suspensions,
and/or a fiber separation station having a vacuum conveyor.