Extruded starch foams are well known as biodegradable alternatives to foamed polystyrene packaging materials. Extruded foams of unmodified starch replacing 1% to 20% of the starch with kraft lignin were prepared. At 10% lignin, there are no deleterious effects on foam density, morphology, compressive strength, or resiliency as compared to a starch extruded foam, yet the foam retains its integrity after immersion for 24 hours in water. At 20% lignin there is a decrease in compressive strength and resiliency. Addition of cellulose fibers restore the mechanical properties but with an increase in density.

Radiation-curable, polyester acrylate-containing compositions (I) obtainable by reacting 0.5 to 20 mol % of a polyester polyol (A) and 0.5 to 30 mol % of a polyester diol (B) with 1 to 10 mol % of phthalic anhydride (C) and 65 to 75 mol % of (meth)acrylic acid (D) in the presence of an acidic esterification catalyst, a hydrocarbon (L), and a polymerization inhibitor. Reaction temperatures range from 60 to 140 C. The hydrocarbon (L) functions as solvent, forms an azeotropic mixture with water, and is removed distillatively after esterification. Water formed in the reaction is removed azeotropically. After neutralization of the esterification catalyst, free (meth)acrylic acid is reacted with an epoxide compound (E) in an amount equivalent to the acid number of the reaction mixture. The compound (E) has at least two epoxide groups per molecule. The compositions are suitable for coating the surfaces of solid substrates.

This invention relates to a method for extracting valorized compounds from lignin by contacting lignins with an ionic liquid and/or a deep eutectic solvent and adding a catalyst and/or a biocatalyst to assist in breaking down the source material. Converting lignin into high value chemicals adds revenues for a bio-refinery and helps to improve the economic viability of biofuel production.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing an activated lignin composition. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for further processing the thus activated lignin composition in a method for preparing a lignin-phenol formaldehyde resin. Such a lignin-phenol formaldehyde resin can be used in the manufacturing of laminates by replacing the traditional synthetic phenol formaldehyde resin.

A thermoplastic material includes one or more thermoplastic polymers in the form of particles having a specified average particle size distribution (e.g., less than 1000 microns or another range) measured by mechanical sieving. Such thermoplastic material may be incorporated in a cork composite material that includes cork, such as in the form of cork particles. The thermoplastic material and cork may be used to produce an article of manufacture, such as a closure for a product retaining container, the closure being constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of said container.

A method of fabricating a cork composite material and a cork composite material. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cork particles in a volume and adding a dispersion of thermoplastic elastomer to the volume to provide a mixture of the dispersion of thermoplastic elastomer and the cork particles. The method may comprise agitating the cork particles and/or the mixture of the dispersion of thermoplastic elastomer and the cork particles and heating the mixture of the thermoplastic elastomer and the cork particles. The method may comprise allowing the mixture of the thermoplastic elastomer and the cork particles to cool. The steps of the method together may result in a plurality of coated cork particles being coated in a first layer of the thermoplastic elastomer.

Microbeads including about 50 wt % to about 99 wt % cellulose and about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % lignin. An average diameter of the microbeads is in a range of about 25 microns to about 1500 microns. Producing the microbeads includes dissolving cellulose and lignin in a solvent to yield a biomass solution, introducing the biomass solution into oil to yield a first mixture, adding an anti-solvent to the first mixture to yield a second mixture, and precipitating the microbeads from the second mixture.

The present invention concerns a method for depolymerizing oxygenated polymer materials and the use of said method in the recycling of plastic materials and the preparation of aromatic compounds that can be used as fuel, synthesis intermediates and raw materials in the construction sectors and in the petrochemical, electrical, electronic, textile, aeronautical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agrochemical industries. The present invention also concerns the use of aromatic compounds obtained by the method for depolymerizing oxygenated polymer materials according to the invention, in the production of fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, drugs, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, food products, synthetic threads and fibers, synthetic leathers, glues, pesticides and fertilizers.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the reactivity of lignin which method comprises the following steps; providing a mixture comprising lignin and an alkali solution wherein the concentration of the alkali solution of the mixture is between 5-50% by weight, storing said mixture for a period of at least 1 day whereby the reactivity of the lignin is increased. The present invention also relates to a resin composition comprising said lignin and use of said resin composition.

The invention relates to a process for making a purified lignin composition comprising a carrier liquid suitable for processing in a refinery. It comprises providing an aqueous lignin composition comprising lignin, cooking chemicals and water and adding a carrier liquid to the aqueous lignin to provide an organic phase. Then all or substantially all the water is removed from the composition. The lignin composition is processed to make the lignin more soluble in the carrier liquid in order to transfer more of the lignin to the organic phase. Cooking chemicals are removed, suitably by of washing by liquid/liquid extraction using a washing liquid. Finally washing liquid is removed.