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.

A polymer-nanocellulose-lignin composite as disclosed comprises a polymer, nanocellulose, and lignin, wherein lignin forms a hydrophobic interface between the polymer and the nanocellulose. In some variations, a process is disclosed for producing a polymer-nanocellulose-lignin composite material, comprising: fractionating lignocellulosic biomass in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin, wherein lignin deposits onto fiber surfaces or into fiber pores; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form a hydrophobic nanocellulose material comprising cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals; hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to generate fermentable hemicellulosic sugars; fermenting the fermentable hemicellulosic sugars to generate a monomer or monomer precursor; polymerizing the monomer to produce a polymer; and combining the polymer with the lignin-coated nanocellulose to generate a polymer-nanocellulose-lignin composite material for use in a wide variety of products.

An oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material is disclosed herein, for nanocellulose sponges and other applications. The oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material comprises lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils and/or lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals. In various embodiments, the nanocellulose material is in the form of a 2D coating or layer, or a 3D object (e.g., foam or aerogel). The nanocellulose material may be disposed onto a scaffold. A process is provided for producing an oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object, comprising fractionating a biomass feedstock with an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a lignin-containing liquor; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals; generating a nanocellulose object from the intermediate nanocellulose material; exposing the nanocellulose object to the lignin-containing liquor to allow lignin to deposit onto a surface of the nanocellulose object; and recovering the oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object.

A bio-polyol composition and a bio-polyurethane foam are provided. The bio-polyol composition includes polyol, a surface-modified lignin, and a surfactant represented by formula 1. ##STR00001## wherein R is represented by C.sub.nH.sub.2n+1, n is an integer of 0 to 3; x/y is between 5 and 13; a is an integer of 1 to 100; b is an integer of 1 to 100.

An adhesive composition that can be applied to reinforcing plies of textile material for tyres and comprising (a) an elastomeric rubber latex, (b) a precondensed resin composed of resorcinol and formaldehyde and comprising protected isocyanate groups, (c) lignin and (d) a compound chosen from urea and thiourea.

Disclosed is a method comprising: a) dispersing lignin into an alcohol-containing compound having a boiling point in the range of 120 C. to 300 C. to form a lignin dispersion; and b) contacting the lignin dispersion with an alkylene carbonate, optionally in the presence of a basic compound, at a temperature in the range of from 120 C. to 200 C. and a period of time in the range of from 0.25 hours to 24 hours to form an alkoxylated lignin dispersion.

The present invention discloses cellulosic composites that include mechanical or chemical pulp, and methods for producing such cellulosic composites. Embodiments of such composites may exhibit improved mechanical properties and moisture resistance when compared to composites derived from conventional cellulosic feedstock.

The present invention relates to lignin compositions and methods for producing lignin composite materials. Composites of this invention substantially reduce or eliminate odor emanating from lignin that would otherwise be present.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing lignin composite materials. Composites of this invention have improved moisture resistance and mechanical properties that are desirable.

A polyurethane foam and a method of forming a polyurethan foam. The polyurethane foam including the reaction product of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene copolymer polyol, a gelation catalyst, a blowing catalyst, lignin, a polymeric isocyanate, and a blowing agent. The method includes mixing polyethylene glycol and polypropylene copolymer polyol, a gelation catalyst, a blowing catalyst, lignin, a polymeric isocyanate, and a blowing agent. Vehicle components are formed from the polyurethane foam.