Bioplastic compositions and methods of making are described herein. The various mechanical and physical properties of the bioplastic may be varied by altering the thermoforming or incorporating an additive depending on the desired mechanical and physical properties of the end product. The bioplastic may be made entirely of biomatter and be backyard compostable.

A method of forming panels. The method comprises mixing a composition comprising curable resin, microspheres and at least one additive in the presence of a catalyst. The method further comprises transferring the composition to a cuboid shaped mold and allowing the composition to cure in the cuboid shaped mold to form a cuboid shaped body of syntactic foam material. The method further comprises demolding the cuboid shaped body of syntactic foam material and cutting panels from the cuboid shaped body of syntactic foam material. The method further comprises drying the panels.

Disclosed herein are sugar-based composites that are a recyclable and environmentally friendly replacement for plastics. The sugar-based composites are a renewable, recyclable, degradable, energy-efficient, and lightweight replacement of plastics in short term use applications. The sugar-based composites comprise small molecule sugar compounds. Methods of preparing and methods of recycling the sugar-based composites are also disclosed.

Provided are superabsorbent materials composed of agar, and one or more water-soluble natural polysaccharides, and dietary compositions containing such superabsorbent materials. The disclosed superabsorbent materials have various food and therapeutic applications and can be used as loading vehicles for nutrients and therapeutic agents. Also provided are methods for preparing such superabsorbent materials.

A stretch film for use in the cosmetic or agri-food packaging sectors comprises konjac and carrageenan in a mass ratio of between 20/80 and 60/40. A stretch film according to the present disclosure has advantageous properties for use as a biodegradable stretch cling film and cosmetic mask.

A method includes producing transparent and mechanically stable hybrid films from a colloidal solution containing one or more biopolymers, one or more soluble metal precursors each including at least two to four hydrolysable alkoxide type functions M(OR).sub.n (n=2, 3 or 4), one or more solvents and optionally a catalyst and a stabiliser.

A system for making and using a ground product that includes one or more of: a reactor operated to react a guar split with a reagent at a reaction temperature in a range of 120 F. to 180 F. to form a guar derivative, and a treatment and transfer section for optionally treating the guar derivative and transferring the guar derivative to a co-grinder. The co-grinder is operably associated with a heated vacuum system and is operated to co-grind an acid with the guar derivative to form a ground product.

A process is disclosed herein comprising the steps: a) contacting an esterifying agent and a polysaccharide in the presence of a first solvent and suitable reaction conditions for a reaction time sufficient to form a product comprising a polysaccharide ester composition, the polysaccharide ester composition comprising a polysaccharide ester having a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3; wherein the esterifying agent comprises an acyl halide, a phosphoryl halide, a carboxylic acid anhydride, a haloformic acid ester, a carbonic acid ester, or a vinyl ester; and the ratio of esterifying agent to polysaccharide is in the range of about 0.001:1 to about 3:1 on a molar equivalent basis; b) combining the product obtained in step a) with polyacrylonitrile; and c) spinning fibers.

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising a graft copolymer that comprises: (i) a backbone comprising dextran that has been modified with about 1%-25% alpha-1,2 branches, and (ii) one or more alpha-1,3-glucan side chains comprising at least about 50% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Further disclosed are reactions for producing such graft copolymers, as well as their use in derivatives, films and various other applications.

A process for manufacturing a tubular film such as an edible casing film or a packaging film. The process includes the steps of providing a preblended powder composition containing a polymer matrix, a plasticizer, and water; feeding the preblended powder composition to an extruder; heating the preblended powder composition to a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius for a sufficient time to fully hydrate the polymer matrix and to convert the powder composition to a flowable mass; and extruding the flowable mass through a tubular die of the extruder to form the tubular film. The tubular film comprises: about 40-75 wt % polymer matrix; about 10-35 wt % plasticizer; and about 10-35 wt % water. The polymer matrix component is fully hydrated under the temperature, pressure and shear conditions inside the extruder, and may have a component which is only fully hydrated at temperatures above about 100 degrees Celsius.