The invention relates to a hydrogel product comprising glycosaminoglycan molecules as the swellable polymer, wherein the glycosaminoglycan molecules are covalently crosslinked via crosslinks comprising a spacer group selected from the group consisting of di-, tri-, tetra-, and oligosaccharides.

A method of preparing a hydrogel product comprising crosslinked glycosaminoglycan molecules, said method including: i) providing a glycosaminoglycan crosslinked by amide bonds, wherein the crosslinked glycosaminoglycans include ester crosslinks formed as byproducts during the amide crosslinking; and ii) subjecting the crosslinked glycosaminoglycans to alkaline treatment to hydrolyze ester crosslinks formed as byproducts during the amide crosslinking.

Aqueous binder compositions with reduced rates of salt precipitation are described. The compositions may include a carbohydrate and a sequestrant for sequestering one or more multivalent ions (e.g., Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, Ba.sup.2+, Al.sup.3+, Fe.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, etc.). The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the aqueous binder composition. Methods of reducing salt precipitation from a binder composition are also described. The methods may include the steps of providing an aqueous binder solution having one or more carbohydrates. They may also include adding a sequestrant for one or more multivalent ions to the aqueous binder solution. The sequestrant reduces a precipitation rate for the multivalent ions from the binder composition.

A method for at least partial deacetylation of a biopolymer comprising acetyl groups, including: a1) providing a biopolymer including acetyl groups; a2) reacting the biopolymer including acetyl groups with hydroxylamine (NH.sub.2OH) or a salt thereof at a temperature of 100? C. or less for 2-200 hours to form an at least partially deacetylated biopolymer; and a3) recovering the at least partially deacetylated biopolymer.

A method for cleaving amide bonds, comprising: a) providing a molecule comprising an amide group; b) reacting the molecule comprising an amide group with hydroxylamine (NH.sub.2OH) or a salt thereof to cleave the amide bond of the amide group.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of films made of polysaccharides which, as a fiber-forming substance, contain (1.fwdarw.3)-glucan, as well as to the films made thereof and to their use.

The present invention relates to a thermosetting binder composition containing water and a water-soluble oligomeric ester of at least one saccharide chosen from reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and hydrogenated sugars, the hydrogenated sugars being chosen from the group consisting of erythritol, arabitol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, iditol, maltitol, isomaltitol, lactitol, cellobitol, palatinitol, maltotritol and hydrogenation products of hydrolyzates of starch or of lignocellulose materials, and of at least one polycarboxylic acid, the binder composition having a dry matter content of between 50% and 80% by weight, the water-soluble oligomeric ester representing at least 80% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, of the cry matter content of the thermosetting binder composition, and the thermosetting binder composition containing less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight, with respect to its dry matter content, of free sorbitol. It also relates to the use of such a binder composition for the manufacture of a product based on mineral or organic fibers which are bonded by an insoluble organic binder.

Methods for controlled synthesis and chemical recycling of stereoregular polysaccharides via polymerization of biomass-derived anhydrosugars are provided. The anhydrosugars react with an initiator in the presence of a synergy of a catalyst and the initiator providing the polysaccharides with high chain end fidelity and an excellent molecular weight distribution in a controlled manner, which allows for the preparation of polymeric systems with well-defined architectures. The polysaccharides obtained by such methods can be substantially converted to the start monomers in the present of a catalyst and can be used for biomedicine.

The present invention relates to a thermosetting binder composition containing water and a water-soluble oligomeric ester of at least one saccharide chosen from reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and hydrogenated sugars, the hydrogenated sugars being chosen from the group consisting of erythritol, arabitol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, iditol, maltitol, isomaltitol, lactitol, cellobitol, palatinitol, maltotritol and hydrogenation products of hydrolyzates of starch or of lignocellulose materials, and of at least one polycarboxylic acid, the binder composition having a dry matter content of between 50% and 80% by weight, the water-soluble oligomeric ester representing at least 80% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, of the cry matter content of the thermosetting binder composition, and the thermosetting binder composition containing less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight, with respect to its dry matter content, of free sorbitol.

It also relates to the use of such a binder composition for the manufacture of a product based on mineral or organic fibers which are bonded by an insoluble organic binder.

The invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous foam comprising the following steps: (a) preparing a solution comprising at least one surfactant and at least one protic polar solvent, (b) bringing the solution into contact with a pressurised gas, whereby a two-phase mixture is obtained, and (c) injecting the two-phase mixture, whereby, after expansion or dispersion of the gas, the aqueous foam is obtained. According to the invention, the solution further comprises at least one gelling compound chosen from a non-nitrogenous polysaccharide and gelatin. The invention also relates to the aqueous foam obtained by such a method and to the uses of same, in particular in the fields of decontamination, the purification of effluents, or the defusing or containment of explosive devices or suspected explosive devices.