A method of forming a composite material includes disposing dried plant material, nanoparticles, and a supercritical fluid in a vessel. A cellular structure of the dried plant material expands when disposed in the supercritical fluid and the nanoparticles migrate into and are embedded within the expanded cellular structure of the disposed dried plant material. The disposed dried plant fibers with embedded nanoparticles are removed from the vessel and mixed with a polymer to form a polymer-nanoparticle mixture. A chemical additive can be added to the supercritical fluid and the chemical additive can remove at least one of hemicellulose, lignin and pectins from the dried plant material.

The present invention provides process for treating crop kernels, comprising the steps of a) soaking kernels in water to produce soaked kernels; b) grinding the soaked kernels; c) treating the soaked kernels in the presence of an effective amount of GH62 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity or a GH43 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity, wherein step c) is performed before, during or after step b).

The present invention provides process for treating crop kernels, comprising the steps of a) soaking kernels in water to produce soaked kernels; b) grinding the soaked kernels; c) treating the soaked kernels in the presence of an effective amount of GH62 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity or a GH43 polypeptide having arabinofuranosidase activity, wherein step c) is performed before, during or after step b).

The present invention provides a method for the extraction and isolation of soluble arabinoxylan products from cereal grain. Preferably, such soluble arabinoxylan product is any one of soluble arabinoxylan, arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides, xylose, arabinose, ferulic acid and mixtures thereof. Said method comprises partial debranning of whole cereal grains to obtain partially debranned cereal grains followed by roller milling of said partially debranned cereal grains to obtain cereal bran. The method further comprises the mashing of at least part of said cereal bran in water optionally involving the treatment of the mash with any one of an enzyme preparation, an acid, a base, a peroxide or combinations thereof, either simultaneously or sequentially, to solubilize and optionally depolymerize a fraction of the arabinoxylan comprised in said cereal bran. Preferably, said treatment is done with an enzyme preparation containing an endoxylanase. The method further comprises the separation from said mash of a solubilized fraction, which comprises at least part of the solubilized soluble arabinoxylan products.

The present invention provides a method for the extraction and isolation of soluble arabinoxylan products from cereal grain. Preferably, such soluble arabinoxylan product is any one of soluble arabinoxylan, arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides, xylose, arabinose, ferulic acid and mixtures thereof. Said method comprises partial debranning of whole cereal grains to obtain partially debranned cereal grains followed by roller milling of said partially debranned cereal grains to obtain cereal bran. The method further comprises the mashing of at least part of said cereal bran in water optionally involving the treatment of the mash with any one of an enzyme preparation, an acid, a base, a peroxide or combinations thereof, either simultaneously or sequentially, to solubilize and optionally depolymerize a fraction of the arabinoxylan comprised in said cereal bran. Preferably, said treatment is done with an enzyme preparation containing an endoxylanase. The method further comprises the separation from said mash of a solubilized fraction, which comprises at least part of the solubilized soluble arabinoxylan products.

The present invention provides novel anionic modified rosin ester resins having a high BRC content, up to 100% BRC. The resins of the present invention are useful as emulsion, dispersion, or solution resins. High BRC content pigment grind vehicles, coatings, and finished inks can be prepared using the resins of the present invention. Advantageously, the finished inks of the present invention have equal to or superior properties compared to current commercially available inks sold as sustainable products, but having little to no BRC content. The present invention represents a significant step towards developing sustainable inks and coatings that are better for the environment.

The present invention provides novel anionic modified rosin ester resins having a high BRC content, up to 100% BRC. The resins of the present invention are useful as emulsion, dispersion, or solution resins. High BRC content pigment grind vehicles, coatings, and finished inks can be prepared using the resins of the present invention. Advantageously, the finished inks of the present invention have equal to or superior properties compared to current commercially available inks sold as sustainable products, but having little to no BRC content. The present invention represents a significant step towards developing sustainable inks and coatings that are better for the environment.

This disclosure relates to a semi-humic composition comprising one or more humic substance which has been chemically interacted with one or more organic non-humic nitrogenous molecules, methods of use thereof, and a process for obtaining the same. The compositions provided herein are useful for enhancing crop growth, and in particular, in the area of organic farming.

A coupling agent formulation for cellulosic material-polymer composites is provided. The formulation includes a) at least one organic peroxide; and b) at least one of i) at least one zinc-containing reagent; and/or ii) at least one silicon-containing reagent. The coupling agent formulations produce polymer matrix cellulosic material composites with improved strength and aging characteristics. The improved strength may be related to physical properties such as improved stiffness, toughness or tensile strength. A masterbatch utilizing the coupling agent formulation is provided, as well as a method making the masterbatch.

A coupling agent formulation for cellulosic material-polymer composites is provided. The formulation includes a) at least one organic peroxide; and b) at least one of i) at least one zinc-containing reagent; and/or ii) at least one silicon-containing reagent. The coupling agent formulations produce polymer matrix cellulosic material composites with improved strength and aging characteristics. The improved strength may be related to physical properties such as improved stiffness, toughness or tensile strength. A masterbatch utilizing the coupling agent formulation is provided, as well as a method making the masterbatch.