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 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.

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 provides methods for preparing the nut waste composites from a nut waste component, one or more binders, and an oil using a compounder/extruder.

Disclosed herein are lignin-furfuryl alcohol compositions, lignin-furfuryl alcohol-resole (LFR) compositions comprising lignin-furfuryl alcohol composition and phenolic resoles and LFR foams derived from such LFR compositions. Disclosed herein are LFR foams comprising a polymeric phase defining a plurality of open cells and a plurality of closed cells, and a gas phase comprising one or more blowing agents disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of closed cells, wherein the polymeric phase is derived from LFR compositions.

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.

The present invention provides methods for preparing the nut waste composites from a nut waste component, one or more binders, and an oil using a compounder/extruder.

A method of forming a carbon foam precursor for use in the formation of carbon foam materials. The carbon foam precursor comprises an aerogel of polymeric material which has a coating layer thereon, the coating layer comprising a material susceptible to dielectric heating, for example carbon nanotubes. The carbon foam precursor is suitable for forming into a carbon foam material using a dielectric heating step, despite the aerogel of polymeric material not being susceptible to dielectric heating, without adversely affecting the structure and physical properties of the carbon foam so formed. A carbon foam precursor, a carbon foam material and a method of forming such a carbon material are also disclosed.

A faade system for a building, in particular an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS), comprises a thermal and/or acoustic insulation, consisting of at least one insulation element being a bonded mineral fibre product made of mineral fibres, preferably stone wool fibres, and a cured aqueous binder composition, whereby the insulation element is fixed to an outer surface of the building by mechanical fastening elements and/or an adhesive, covered with a rendering, and whereby the aqueous binder composition prior to curing comprises a first component in form of one or more oxidized lignins, a second component in form of one or more cross-linkers, and a third component in form of one or more plasticizers, whereby the insulation element has a bulk density between 70 kg/m.sup.3 and 150 kg/m.sup.3.

Provided are white lignin, a white lignin-polysaccharide complex, and methods for producing the same.

A method for producing white lignin or a white lignin-polysaccharide complex, including: (a) a step of bringing a plant biomass into contact with an alkaline solution to obtain an alkali-treated material; (b) a step of washing the alkali-treated material with a liquid to obtain a washed material; and (c) a step of bringing a solution containing an organic acid into contact with the washed material.