loaded by the process of the invention further in accordance with the invention calcium oxide lime or calcium hydroxide is mixed with dewatered crumb pulp having the desired level of moisture in this connection the calcium oxide can be added to the water used for reconstituting dried fibers prior to adding the water to the fibers upon adding the calcium oxide to a dewatered crumb pulp and simple mixing for a period of a few minutes the calcium oxide as a white powder combines with the water to form calcium hydroxide within the mass of fibers in the pulp since both calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide are both relatively insoluble in water 1 2 and 1 6 grams per liter respectively and there is no substantial free surface moisture on the fibers the mechanism whereby the calcium oxide is drawn into the water located in the hollow fiber interior and the fiber walls is not completely understood calcium oxide however reacts vigorously with water in an exothermic reaction to produce calcium hydroxide enough for 100 grams of quicklime to heat 200 grams of water from 0 u00b0 f to boiling while not wishing to be bound by any theory it is believed that the calcium oxide reacts with water at the surface openings of the fiber to form calcium hydroxide and that the calcium hydroxide is drawn into the cell walls and hollow interior of the cellulose fibers by hydrostatic forces for this reason the highly reactive forms of calcium oxide quicklime are preferably used in the process of the invention the less reactive forms such as dolomitic limestone and dead burned limestone are less suitable the calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide may be added at any desired.