Admixtures comprising an adhesive resin and cellulose are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the cellulose is type-II cellulose. Also disclosed are compositions comprising adhesive resins, in which the adhesive resins comprise a condensation product of formaldehyde and at least one phenolic compound, and the condensation product is formed in the presence of cellulose, wherein at least a portion of the cellulose is type-II cellulose. Articles of manufacture containing the admixtures and compositions, such as plywood and oriented strand board, are also disclosed. In addition, methods of preparing the compositions and articles of manufacture are disclosed.

Admixtures comprising an adhesive resin and cellulose are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the cellulose is type-II cellulose. Also disclosed are compositions comprising adhesive resins, in which the adhesive resins comprise a condensation product of formaldehyde and at least one phenolic compound, and the condensation product is formed in the presence of cellulose, wherein at least a portion of the cellulose is type-II cellulose. Articles of manufacture containing the admixtures and compositions, such as plywood and oriented strand board, are also disclosed. In addition, methods of preparing the compositions and articles of manufacture are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing hydrophilic biopolymers, particularly hydrophilic cellulosic material, particularly cellulose nanofibers like micro- or nanofibrillated cellulose, as described in claim 1; to novel materials comprising hydrophilic biopolymers and to the use of such hydrophilic biopolymers.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing hydrophilic biopolymers, particularly hydrophilic cellulosic material, particularly cellulose nanofibers like micro- or nanofibrillated cellulose, as described in claim 1; to novel materials comprising hydrophilic biopolymers and to the use of such hydrophilic biopolymers.

Compositions comprising crosslinked polysaccharides, particularly levan and/or dextran, may provide advantageous benefits when admixed with concrete blends. Suitable compositions may comprise a biologically sourced surfactant, and a crosslinked polysaccharide, in which the crosslinked polysaccharide comprises at least one crosslinking group bonded via ether linkages to a first polysaccharide chain and a second polysaccharide chain. Concrete blends may comprise such compositions, a cement and water. Methods for forming and/or using the concrete blends may comprise allowing the concrete blends to form a hardened mass.

Compositions comprising crosslinked polysaccharides, particularly levan and/or dextran, may provide advantageous benefits when admixed with concrete blends. Suitable compositions may comprise a biologically sourced surfactant, and a crosslinked polysaccharide, in which the crosslinked polysaccharide comprises at least one crosslinking group bonded via ether linkages to a first polysaccharide chain and a second polysaccharide chain. Concrete blends may comprise such compositions, a cement and water. Methods for forming and/or using the concrete blends may comprise allowing the concrete blends to form a hardened mass.

A nacre-mimetic environmentally friendly composite membrane with an interpenetrating petal structure and a preparation method thereof. Materials for preparing the composite membrane include magadiite, CMC and a bis-silane coupling agent. The composite membrane according to the present invention has an interpenetrating petal stable structure with non-parallel petal-shaped lamellar structure. In addition, inorganic sheets intersperse with each other to form an interlock.

The present invention provides crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose having high elastic modulus coupled with high absorbance capacity when swollen in simulated gastric fluid/water (1:8) and simulated intestinal fluids. The invention further provides methods of making the crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose, compositions comprising the crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose and methods of using the crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose, for example, for treating overweight or obesity or for enhancing glycemic control.

The invention discloses a method of preparation of crosslinked materials based on polysaccharides using electromagnetic radiation in an aqueous solution containing a polysaccharide with a bound carbamate photoremovable protecting group (PPG with group NHCOO) and a polysaccharide containing an aldehyde group CHO. The crosslinking process itself is carried out by means of a condensation reaction of the photochemically released amino group (NH.sub.2) with the aldehyde group (CHO) forming a bond of imine type (NCH). Both processes proceed simultaneously and they can be performed under physiological conditions. The advantage of the suggested solution is the temporal and spatial control of crosslinking that allows the preparation of advanced materials for tissue engineering where the crosslink density and thus the mechanical properties in the material structure can be tailored.

An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient method for producing cellulose nanofibers, without N-oxyl compounds such as TEMPO remaining in the cellulose nanofibers. Provided is a method for producing cellulose nanofibers, the method including: oxidizing a cellulose raw material with hypochlorous acid, or a salt thereof, having an available chlorine concentration of from 14% by mass to 43% by mass, to produce an oxidized cellulose; and fibrillating the oxidized cellulose into nanofibers.