The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibres.

The present invention is directed to a high temperature low emitting mineral fiber product which is suitable as thermal insulation.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity, hydrophobic cellulose. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and depositing lignin onto cellulose fibers to produce lignin-coated cellulose materials (such as dissolving pulp). The crystallinity of the cellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the hydrophobic cellulose to form completely renewable composites.

The present invention relates to a thermoplastic composition, a thermoplastic composite, and a method for producing the thermoplastic composite. In the method for producing the thermoplastic composite, a polymer, an acid-modified lignin with a specific element content and a compatibilizer with a specific melt flow index and a specific maleic anhydride content are used to produce the thermoplastic composite. Hydroxy groups of the acid-modified lignin react with maleic anhydride groups of the compatibilizer to generate ester bonds via an in-situ reaction catalyzed by acidic groups of the acid-modified lignin to enhance compatibility between the polymer and the lignin, thereby increasing a mechanical strength of the resulted thermoplastic composite.

A method for manufacturing a closure constructed for being inserted and securely retained in a portal-forming neck of a product-retaining container is provided. Such method may include intimately combining a plurality of particles comprising cork and having a specified particle size distribution with a plastic material including one or more thermoplastic polymers, optionally in combination with other constituent(s) to form a composition, heating the composition to form a melt, extruding or molding a closure precursor from the melt to provide a specified water content range, and optionally cutting and/or finishing the closure precursor. A composition for use in manufacturing a closure for a product-retaining container includes a plurality of particles comprising cork and having a specified particle size distribution with a plastic material including one or more thermoplastic polymer, optionally in combination with other constituent(s). Methods for producing particulate material, cork composite material, additional methods for producing closures, and resulting closures are also provided.

Method for the manufacture of the innerliner compound comprising: —a first mixing step wherein at least one cross-linkable unsaturated chain polymeric base and one filler system are mixed together; —a final mixing step wherein a vulcanization system is added and mixed with the mixture deriving from an earlier mixing step; and —an intermediate mixing step, interposed between said first mixing step and the final mixing step, and wherein lignin is added and mixed into the mixture deriving from a previous mixing step.

Method for the manufacture of the innerliner compound comprising: —a first mixing step wherein at least one cross-linkable unsaturated chain polymeric base and one filler system are mixed together; —a final mixing step wherein a vulcanization system is added and mixed with the mixture deriving from an earlier mixing step; and —an intermediate mixing step, interposed between said first mixing step and the final mixing step, and wherein lignin is added and mixed into the mixture deriving from a previous mixing step.

Methods of making self-expended lignofoams are provided. In embodiments, such a method comprises exposing a self-expanding lignofoam composition comprising raw lignin and a thermoplastic polymer to an elevated temperature for a period of time to soften the composition, desorb water from the raw lignin or induce at least some hydroxyl groups of the raw lignin to undergo dehydration reactions to generate water or both, vaporize the water, and generate pores throughout the softened composition. The method further comprises cooling the porous, softened composition to room temperature to provide the self-expanded lignofoam. The self-expanding lignofoam composition is free of an added plasticizer, an added lubricant, an added foaming agent, and an added blowing agent, and the thermoplastic polymer is not a starch, not a polyurethane, and not a polysiloxane. The resulting self-expanded lignofoams are also provided.

The present invention relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic material to obtain hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose and other high-value products such as asphalt and bio oils. Also provided are hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose, and other high-value products such as asphalt and bio oils.

A method for manufacturing bio-plastic composite containing brewer's spent grains includes the steps of: providing brewer's spent grains; providing petrochemical plastic; mixing the brewer's spent grains with the petrochemical plastic at an addition amount of 10% to 60% of brewer's spent grains and 40% to 90% petrochemical plastic; and providing a binder at a proportion of 8% to 12%. A pretreatment unit which uses a dehydration process, a desiccation process, a drying process, a grinding process and a sieving process to process the brewer's spent grains into brewer's spent grains which have a length-to-diameter ratio of 7.6 to 10.2. A granulator includes a double screw extruder connected with a cutting machine. The double screw extruder mixes the petrochemical plastic and the brewer's spent grains and extrudes them into plastic bars, which are then cut into plastic granules by the cutting machine.