Provided is a method for producing a lignin degradation product that includes (1) a degradation step of degrading a raw material containing a plant biomass, in a mixed solvent of water and an aliphatic alcohol having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, which separates into two phases at 0° C. or higher and 50° C. or lower, under the following conditions, and (2) after the degradation step, a liquid-liquid separation step of separating the lignin degradation product-containing organic phase from the solvent that has separated at the temperature for two-phase separation. The method produces a lignin degradation product at a high yield from lignin or a material containing lignin. Condition A: The concentration of the raw material to be in the mixed solvent is 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. Condition B: The reaction temperature is 100° C. or higher and 350° C. or lower. Condition C: The reaction time is 0.1 hours or more and 10 hours or less.

Provided is a method for producing a lignin degradation product that includes (1) a degradation step of degrading a raw material containing a plant biomass, in a mixed solvent of water and an aliphatic alcohol having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, which separates into two phases at 0° C. or higher and 50° C. or lower, under the following conditions, and (2) after the degradation step, a liquid-liquid separation step of separating the lignin degradation product-containing organic phase from the solvent that has separated at the temperature for two-phase separation. The method produces a lignin degradation product at a high yield from lignin or a material containing lignin. Condition A: The concentration of the raw material to be in the mixed solvent is 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. Condition B: The reaction temperature is 100° C. or higher and 350° C. or lower. Condition C: The reaction time is 0.1 hours or more and 10 hours or less.

The invention is directed to compositions and processes concerning efficient downstream processing of products derived from organic acids pretreatment of plant materials.

Multi-extraction methods for preparing hemicellulose compositions are provided. Depressant compositions comprising hemicellulose compositions are also provided herein. Also disclosed are processes for enriching a desired mineral from an ore comprising the desired mineral, wherein the process comprises carrying out a flotation process in the presence of one or more collecting agents and a depressant composition comprising hemicellulose.

A method of making foam imparts antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities to the foam. Green tea powder is added to the polyol raw materials for making memory foam. The green tea memory foam is used to make pillows, cushions and mattresses. Green tea foam in the top layer of a mattress acts as an antiodorant such that less of the chemical smell of the memory foam is perceived by the user. In addition, the bacteria and mold that would otherwise develop in the moist warmer sleeping environment on memory foam are killed by the green tea additive to the foam. Measurable antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities in the green tea foam are achievable by adding green tea powder constituting less than 2% of the weight of the resulting green tea foam. A neck-support contour pillow is made using memory foam that contains green tea and a green dye.

A method of making foam imparts antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities to the foam. Green tea powder is added to the polyol raw materials for making memory foam. The green tea memory foam is used to make pillows, cushions and mattresses. Green tea foam in the top layer of a mattress acts as an antiodorant such that less of the chemical smell of the memory foam is perceived by the user. In addition, the bacteria and mold that would otherwise develop in the moist warmer sleeping environment on memory foam are killed by the green tea additive to the foam. Measurable antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities in the green tea foam are achievable by adding green tea powder constituting less than 2% of the weight of the resulting green tea foam. A neck-support contour pillow is made using memory foam that contains green tea and a green dye.

The method is for separation of lignin from original black liquor (BL.sub.IN) that has a first precipitation phase (PR1/PR2) for precipitation of lignin by a first acidification using acidifier, CO.sub.2, at alkaline conditions, then separating a lignin cake with subsequent suspension of the lignin cake in a strong acid in order to leach out metals from the lignin followed by dewatering and obtaining a clean lignin product LP. Lignin germ particles (LG) are added to the original black liquor in the first precipitation stage, preferably between two phases in said precipitation stage, in order to increase lignin particle growth on such lignin germ particles instead of spontaneous nucleation of lignin particles in said original black liquor. This results in improved filterability in subsequent dewatering and lignin cake formation and hence an increased lignin yield.

The method is for separation of lignin from original black liquor (BL.sub.IN) that has a first precipitation phase (PR1/PR2) for precipitation of lignin by a first acidification using acidifier, CO.sub.2, at alkaline conditions, then separating a lignin cake with subsequent suspension of the lignin cake in a strong acid in order to leach out metals from the lignin followed by dewatering and obtaining a clean lignin product LP. Lignin germ particles (LG) are added to the original black liquor in the first precipitation stage, preferably between two phases in said precipitation stage, in order to increase lignin particle growth on such lignin germ particles instead of spontaneous nucleation of lignin particles in said original black liquor. This results in improved filterability in subsequent dewatering and lignin cake formation and hence an increased lignin yield.

The present disclosure describes a treated cellulosic material comprising: a cellulosic material having a porous structure defining a plurality of pores, at least a portion of the pores containing a treating agent comprising: a polymer comprising an olefin-carboxylic acid copolymer; and a modifying agent comprising a hydrophobic amine.

The present disclosure describes a treated cellulosic material comprising: a cellulosic material having a porous structure defining a plurality of pores, at least a portion of the pores containing a treating agent comprising: a polymer comprising an olefin-carboxylic acid copolymer; and a modifying agent comprising a hydrophobic amine.