A wax-extender emulsion including a plurality of wax-extender complex particles suspended in water is described. A wax-extender complex includes a wax component, an organic extender component and a surfactant that stabilizes the wax component and the organic extender component collectively to form the wax-extender complex. The wax-extender emulsion comprises from 2 wt % to 30 wt % organic extender. During manufacturing, the organic extender and wax component are emulsified and homogenized together to produce the wax-extender emulsion. The wax-extender emulsion can be co-applied as a mixture with adhesive resin during wood-based composite manufacturing.

A thermoplastic starch composition acquired from compounding a mixture comprises starch-containing agricultural waste in 45 to 70% by weight of total composition that the agricultural waste contains starch content less than 50% in dry weight; thermoplastic synthetic polymer in 25 to 50% by weight of total composition; plasticizer in 1 to 10% by weight of total composition; and coupling agent in 1 to 5% by weight of total composition; wherein the compounding is performed at a first temperature which is higher than room temperature.

A thermoplastic starch composition acquired from compounding a mixture comprises starch-containing agricultural waste in 45 to 70% by weight of total composition that the agricultural waste contains starch content less than 50% in dry weight; thermoplastic synthetic polymer in 25 to 50% by weight of total composition; plasticizer in 1 to 10% by weight of total composition; and coupling agent in 1 to 5% by weight of total composition; wherein the compounding is performed at a first temperature which is higher than room temperature.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as hydroxy-carboxylic acids and hydroxy-carboxylic acid derivatives. A method includes treating a reduced recalcitrance lignocellulosic or cellulosic material with one or more enzymes and/or organisms (such as lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Rhizopus, Enterococcus) to produce an alpha, beta, gamma and/or delta hydroxycarboxylic acid (such as lactic acid, glycolic acid); and converting the alpha, beta, gamma and/or delta hydroxy-carboxylic acid to the product (such as esters, polymers, and copolymers).

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as hydroxy-carboxylic acids and hydroxy-carboxylic acid derivatives. A method includes treating a reduced recalcitrance lignocellulosic or cellulosic material with one or more enzymes and/or organisms (such as lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Rhizopus, Enterococcus) to produce an alpha, beta, gamma and/or delta hydroxycarboxylic acid (such as lactic acid, glycolic acid); and converting the alpha, beta, gamma and/or delta hydroxy-carboxylic acid to the product (such as esters, polymers, and copolymers).

Biodegradable composite membranes with antimicrobial properties consisting of nanocellulose fibrils, chitosan, and S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) were developed and tested for food packaging applications. Nitric oxide donor, SNAP was encapsulated into completely dispersed chitosan in 100 mL, 0.1N acetic acid and was thoroughly mixed with nanocellulose fibrils (CNF) to produce a composite membrane. The fabricated membranes had a uniform dispersion of chitosan and SNAP within the nanocellulose fibrils, which was confirmed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs and chemiluminescence nitric oxide analyzer. The membranes prepared without SNAP showed lower water vapor permeability than that of the membranes with SNAP. The addition of SNAP resulted in a decrease in the Young's modulus for both 2-layer and 3-layer membrane configurations. Antimicrobial property evaluation of SNAP incorporated membranes showed an effective zone of inhibition against bacterial strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and demonstrated its potential applications for food packaging.

Biodegradable composite membranes with antimicrobial properties consisting of nanocellulose fibrils, chitosan, and S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) were developed and tested for food packaging applications. Nitric oxide donor, SNAP was encapsulated into completely dispersed chitosan in 100 mL, 0.1N acetic acid and was thoroughly mixed with nanocellulose fibrils (CNF) to produce a composite membrane. The fabricated membranes had a uniform dispersion of chitosan and SNAP within the nanocellulose fibrils, which was confirmed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs and chemiluminescence nitric oxide analyzer. The membranes prepared without SNAP showed lower water vapor permeability than that of the membranes with SNAP. The addition of SNAP resulted in a decrease in the Young's modulus for both 2-layer and 3-layer membrane configurations. Antimicrobial property evaluation of SNAP incorporated membranes showed an effective zone of inhibition against bacterial strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes and demonstrated its potential applications for food packaging.

The present disclosure generally relates chitosan-based biopolymers and chitosan biopolymer film based triboelectric nanogenerators generating voltage and current using the triboelectric effect. The chitosan-based biopolymer is a reaction product of at least a chitosan and an acid, and optionally one or more component selected from starch, lignin and/or glycerol.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) that exhibit superior properties as compared to current commercial SAPs. The disclosed SAPs are useful in a variety of sanitary products and can be made using cost effective methods.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) that exhibit superior properties as compared to current commercial SAPs. The disclosed SAPs are useful in a variety of sanitary products and can be made using cost effective methods.