The invention provides a method for depolymerising a phenolic polymer, the method comprising reacting the phenolic polymer with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and a hydrogen halide. The phenolic polymer may be selected from the group consisting of lignin and derivatives thereof. The hydrogen halide may be HBr. The quantity of hydrogen halide per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 30 mmoles to 70 mmoles. The quantity of DMSO per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 0.1 mole to 1 mole. The reaction may be performed at a temperature of from 100 to 120° C. The reaction may be carried out for between 10 h and 14 h. The product of the reaction may comprise vanillin.

Carbon fibre precursors for use in the formation of carbon fibre materials. The carbon fibre precursors comprise fibres of polymeric material which have a coating layer thereon, the coating layer comprising a material susceptible to dielectric heating, for example carbon nanotubes. The carbon fibre precursors may be suitable for forming into carbon fibres using a dielectric heating step, despite the fibres of polymeric material not being susceptible to dielectric heating, without adversely affecting the structure and physical properties of the main body of the carbon fibre so formed. A method of preparing a carbon fibre precursor for a carbon fibre formation process and a method forming a carbon fibre are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a vessel comprising a wall at least partially made of a compostable or biodegradable material, having an interior surface enclosing a lumen and an exterior surface; and a PECVD coating set on the interior surface, the exterior surface, or both. The PECVD coating set comprises a barrier coating or layer of SiOx, in which x is from about 1.5 to about 2.9 as measured by XPS. The PECVD coating set optionally further comprises a tie coating or layer comprising SiOxCy, in which x is from about 0.5 to about 2.4 and y is from about 0.6 to about 3 as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); a pH protective coating or layer comprising SiOxCy, in which x is from about 0.5 to about 2.4 and y is from about 0.6 to about 3 as measured by XPS; or both. The vessel may also include a lacquer coating between the surface of the wall and the PECVD coating set. In some embodiments, the vessel may be a single use coffee or tea pod.

The present disclosure relates to a composition that includes a lignin-derived mixture that includes at least one of a dimer, a trimer, and/or a tetramer, where the composition is characterized by a thermal stability up to a maximum temperature between about 260° C. and about 300° C.

Lignin gel-based electrolyte is disclosed. The lignin gel-based electrolyte includes a lignin polymer network containing lignin molecules and a crosslinking agent to crosslink the lignin molecules; and liquid electrolyte contained within the lignin polymer network. The lignin gel-based electrolyte may have high ionic conductivity and maintain excellent mechanical stability.

Method of preparing a dispersion of colloidal lignin particles by providing a solution of lignin in a mixture of an organic solvent for lignin and a non-solvent for lignin having a ratio of non-solvent to solvent; and increasing the ratio of the non-solvent to the solvent to produce an aqueous dispersion of colloidal lignin particles. The dispersions are stable and the colloidal lignin particles are useful for many applications such as rheology modifiers in three-dimensional printing of hydrogels, or in purification systems such as filters, and packed columns, and as flocculants.

Process are disclosed for converting plastics, and especially thermoplastic oxygenated polymers, by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) to hydrocarbons, such as aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers. These hydrocarbons may be recovered as chemicals and/or fuels, depending on the particular chemical structures of the starting materials, including the presence of oxygen in the polymer backbones. Advantageously, using a sufficiently active catalyst, only moderate conditions, such as in terms of hydrogen partial pressure, are required, in comparison to known hydrotreating processes. This leads to the formation, with fewer non-selective side reactions, of desired liquid hydrocarbons from substantially all carbon in the oxygenated polymer, as well as water from substantially all oxygen in the oxygenated polymer. In some cases, the liquid hydrocarbons obtained are platform chemicals that can be used for a number of specialized purposes. For example, they may be converted to monomers for regenerating the oxygenated polymer or otherwise for producing a different polymer.

The present invention relates to a sports field comprising: (i) a lower base layer; (ii) an upper grass and/or artificial grass layer; (iii) a shock pad layer, positioned between the base layer and the grass or artificial grass layer; wherein the shock pad layer comprises at least one shock pad comprising a coherent plate having upper and lower major surfaces, wherein the coherent plate comprises at least one coherent layer comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; wherein the aqueous binder composition prior to curing comprises: a component (i) in form of one or more oxidized lignins; a component (ii) in form of one or more cross-linkers; a component (iii) in form of one or more plasticizers.

A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product is provided and includes: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; and irrigating the growth substrate product. The aqueous binder composition prior to curing includes a component (i) in the form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in the form of one or more cross-linkers, and a component (iii) in the form of one or more plasticizers.

Method of forming functionalized colloidal lignin particles, comprising the step of providing lignin in a dissolved form, aldehyde functionalizing lignin, forming a colloidal dispersion of lignin, partially removing organic solvents and heat-curing the dispersion. The concentrated colloidal dispersion is dried by spray drying. The invention can be used in applications where the functioned and colloidal nature of lignin will afford an advantage over bulk lignin.