Surface sizing agents for paper and/or cardboard contain lignin and lignin sulfonates and at least one further surface-finishing substance, wherein it contains 0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight of a lignosulfonate source, 0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 25% by weight of lignin, in particular kraft lignin and at least one further surface-finishing substance selected from the group of hydroxylated polymers, such as starch, PVOH, natural or synthetic hydrophobic materials, such as tall oil, tall oil soap or refined products thereof or hydrophobic materials, such as synthetic or natural waxes, styrenes, butadiene, acrylates, alkyl ketene dimer and oils thereof, such as AnKD, alkenyl succinic acid anhydride and the remainder water as a solvent and/or suspending agent, as well as processes for the production and use of the surface sizing agent.

A method of forming a lignin-based biomass epoxy resin is provided, which includes: (a) mixing a lignin, an acid anhydride compound, and a solvent to react for forming a first intermediate product, (b) reacting the first intermediate compound with a first polyol to form a second intermediate compound, and (c) reacting the second intermediate compound with an epoxy compound to form a lignin-based biomass epoxy resin.

The present invention provides an automotive tire containing from 0.1 wt % to 50 wt % hydrophobic nanocellulose. Hydrophobic nanocellulose may include lignin-coated nanocellulose and/or a chemically modified surface to increase hydrophobicity. The nanocellulose may include cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals. The nanocellulose may be introduced into tire components such as inner liner, body ply, sidewall, beads, apex, belts, treads, cushion gum, and textile fabric. The nanocellulose may be obtained from a biomass-fractionation process utilizing an acid catalyst, a solvent for lignin, and water to generate a lignin-containing nanocellulose precursor, followed by mechanical treatment of the nanocellulose precursor to produce the nanocellulose. For example, the nanocellulose may be obtained from the AVAP process. The tire may further include one or more additional components derived from lignocellulosic biomass. For example, the tire may contain lignin-derived carbon black, lignin-derived antioxidants, or biomass-derived silica. The tire may also contain synthetic polymers derived from biomass sugars.

The present invention relates to a new aqueous curable binder composition comprising a polyphenolic macromolecular compound which bears a multitude of catechol radicals (dihydroxybenzene), preferably lignosulfonate salts and condensed tannins and mixtures thereof, and a polyamine functional compound comprising primary and/or secondary and/or tertiary and/or quaternary amine functional groups, suitable for bonding particulate matter, such as fibers, more particularly mineral wool fibers, or particles, such as wood particles.

The present invention relates to a new aqueous curable binder composition comprising a polyphenolic macromolecular compound which bears a multitude of catechol radicals (dihydroxybenzene), preferably lignosulfonate salts and condensed tannins and mixtures thereof, and a polyamine functional compound comprising primary and/or secondary and/or tertiary and/or quaternary amine functional groups, suitable for bonding particulate matter, such as fibers, more particularly mineral wool fibers, or particles, such as wood particles.

In some variations, the present invention provides an oil-resistant paperboard material coated with hydrophobic nanocellulose. The paperboard material is free of a fluorocarbon coating. In other variations, an oil-resistant paper is coated with hydrophobic nanocellulose and is free of a fluorocarbon coating. The hydrophobic nanocellulose may include lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils, lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals, or a combination thereof. A process for producing these materials is also provided, comprising: fractionating a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock 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 a portion of the lignin deposits onto a surface of the cellulose-rich solids, thereby rendering the cellulose-rich solids at least partially hydrophobic; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form hydrophobic nanocellulose; and coating a paper or paperboard material with the hydrophobic nanocellulose, to generate an oil-resistant paper or paperboard material.

Disclosed is an ultrafine fiber including lignin, a carrier polymer and a carbon material. The ultrafine fiber, which includes lignin, can exhibit the properties of lignin such as antibacterial property, biodegradability, etc. Accordingly, it can be used widely in medical materials such as nanofiber, nanofiber web, nanofiber sheet, etc. for wound healing of the skin's dermal layer. Also, the ultrafine fiber can be used in sheath of electric cables because it contains a carbon material and has superior conductivity. In addition, because the ultrafine fiber can hold a large quantity of water, it can be used in various fields including sanitary pads for women, diapers for babies and adults, etc.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising modified lignin and modified cellulose which are suitable for use in additive manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing), in particular for direct ink writing (DIW). In particular, the invention relates to a composition suitable for direct ink writing, comprising a) a functional ether of lignin, b) a functional ether of cellulose, and c) a solvent comprising an aliphatic alcohol and optionally water. The content of the functional ether of lignin in the composition is at least 25 wt. % based on the combined weights of functional ether of lignin and functional ether of cellulose.

Kraft lignin was modified with phytic acid (C.sub.6H.sub.18O.sub.24P.sub.6 PHA), a bio-based reagent with high amount of phosphorus, in a facile solvent-free reaction at low temperature, to produce a novel reactive bio-based flame retardant. The thermochemical properties of the fabricated lignin derivative were comprehensively analyzed by advanced tools, such as .sup.1H NMR, .sup.31P NMR, HSQC-NMR, XPS, ICP-AES, TGA, and DSC. A smoke detector and limiting oxygen index investigated the flame retardancy behavior of modified lignin used for coating wood samples.

Methods and compositions with anti-fouling properties that are derived from lignin are disclosed. The compositions include lignin with one or more zwitterionic functional groups. The lignin with one or more zwitterionic functional groups may be incorporated in paints and coatings to prepare biocidal coatings.