The invention proposes a polymer solution for visco-supplementation. The polymer solution contains at least one at least partially water-soluble polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative, one water-soluble alkali salt or alkaline earth salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid, and water, whereby the polymer solution is clear to the eye. Moreover, the invention describes a method for sterilisation of the polymer solution. This method is characterised in that a mixture of at least one at least partially water-soluble polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative, one water-soluble alkali salt or alkaline earth salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid, and water is mixed with at least 0.5 wt. % propiolactone, and in that the polymer solution is stored at room temperature for at least 24 hours.

A porous body is placed in a rectangular parallelepipedal casing made of a stainless steel to prepare a mold form. A CNF-containing slurry is charged into the mold form, and another porous body is placed on the CNF-containing slurry. If the CNF-containing slurry are enwrapped in a nylon mesh, leakage of the CNF-containing slurry from a gap between the mold form and the porous body or clogging of the porous bodies can be inhibited. The upper and lower porous bodies are heated while applying a load to the CNF-containing slurry for a desired period of time to effect hot pressing, thereby obtaining a desired molded product. This provides a method for molding CNFs which enables a CNF molded product having a three-dimensional configuration to be obtained at a high productivity, and the CNF molded product obtained by the method for molding CNFs.

The present invention relates to a method of treating biomass, comprising providing a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; contacting the biomass feedstock in a mixture, which is formed by the biomass, water and an alkaline agent, with an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature; and continuing the contacting of the biomass feedstock with the oxidizing agent until a notable part of the lignin is solubilised. The step of providing the biomass feedstock comprises contacting a biomass raw-material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in an aqueous phase with an alkaline agent; continuing the contacting of the biomass with the alkaline agent until a significant portion of the hemicellulose is dissolved in the aqueous phase to provide a modified biomass; recovering the modified biomass; optionally opening the structure of the modified biomass by mechanical treatment; and using the modified biomass as a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock. Treating the biomass provides hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose fractions that have a multitude of applications in the bioeconomy.

The invention relates to a process for treating a lignocellulosic material, preferably wood, comprising the following steps: (1) soaking of the material with organic fluid in order to dissolve at least 40% and at most 85%, in weight %, of the lignin of the material; (2) washing with organic fluid so as to discharge the dissolved lignin; (3) filling with a filling compound; and (4) finishing, so as to obtain a composite formed of a three-dimensional network of transformed filling compound incorporated into a cellulose and lignin network. The invention also relates to a composite structure able to be obtained in this way, and to any part comprising at least one such structure.

Described are a method for processing cellulose-containing biomass and the use of methanesulfonic acid for processing cellulose-containing biomass, especially for the pretreatment of cellulose-containing biomass prior to saccharification.

Described are a method for processing cellulose-containing biomass and the use of methanesulfonic acid for processing cellulose-containing biomass, especially for the pretreatment of cellulose-containing biomass prior to saccharification.

The method of making nanocrystalline cellulose is a flash lyophilized-acidic hydrolysis method for converting cellulosic fibers into nanocrystalline cellulose. Cellulosic fibers are initially ground in a high-speed, rotary grinder to produce ground cellulose fiber. The ground cellulose fiber is then dried to produce dried, ground cellulose, which is then freeze-dried to yield lyophilized cellulose. Pure concentrated sulfuric acid is then added to the lyophilized cellulose at a liquid/solid ratio of 1:1 (vol/wt) to form a cellulosic paste. The cellulosic paste is diluted in either water or absolute ethanol at a liquid/solid ratio of 1:1 (vol/wt) to form a cellulosic solution, which is then filtered under cooling by liquid nitrogen-vapor. The nanocrystalline cellulose precipitate is then washed until neutralization and dried to yield nanocrystalline cellulose.

The method of making a three-dimensional, leaf-based scaffold for three-dimensional cell cultures includes washing a quantity of Ficus religiosa leaves, then treating the washed Ficus religiosa leaves in a sodium hydroxide solution to obtain alkali-treated Ficus religiosa leaves. The alkali-treated Ficus religiosa leaves are washed, and then superficial tissue is removed from the alkali-treated Ficus religiosa leaves to obtain Ficus religiosa leaf skeletons. The Ficus religiosa leaf skeletons are dried and then consecutively immersed in distilled water, a phosphate buffer saline solution, and plain Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) to form the three-dimensional scaffolds for three-dimensional cell cultures. Each three-dimensional scaffold can be used for growing three-dimensional cell cultures, such as human mesenchymal stem cell cultures.

The present invention relates to a phase-stable suspension of cellulose II in water, having a high water retention capacity and a cellulose concentration between 0.1 and 5.0% by weight, a method of its preparation, and its use.

This invention relates to novel compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters. One aspect of the invention relates to processes for preparing regioselectively substituted cellulose esters from cellulose dissolved in ionic liquids. Another aspect of the invention relates to the utility of regioselectively substituted cellulose esters in applications such as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.