The present invention discloses a composition that may be extruded or injection moulded, comprising a chemically modified hardwood lignin and a polyester. The chemically modified hardwood lignin constitutes 10 to 50 weight-% of the total weight of the composition.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin, which avoids melting and/or significant foaming during subsequent thermal processing. The process comprises the steps of providing agglomerated lignin and heating the agglomerated lignin to obtain thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin. The thermally stabilized lignin can be further processed to a carbon enriched material.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a bonding resin, wherein lignin is provided in the form of a solution in ammonia and/or an organic base and mixed with one or more crosslinkers and optionally one or more additives. The bonding resin is useful for example in the manufacture of laminates, mineral wool insulation and wood products such as plywood, oriented strandboard (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), medium density fiberboards (MDF), high density fiberboards (HDF), parquet flooring, curved plywood, veneered particleboards, veneered MDF or particle boards. The bonding resin is also useful for example in composites, molding compounds and foundry applications.

A plant-based functional polyester filament and a preparation method of the plant-based functional polyester filament are provided. The plant-based functional polyester filament includes polyester, and plant extract in a weight percentage range of approximately 0.1%-1.5%. The plant extract includes one or more of a peppermint extract, a valerian extract, a lavender extract, a wormwood extract, a chitin extract and a seaweed extract. The method includes preparing a plant-based functional polyester masterbatch, including: heating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chips to a molten state, adding an antioxidant and a dispersant to the molten PET, stirring the molten PET, adding a protective agent and a plant extract to the molten PET, stirring the molten PET at a high speed, adding a modifier to the molten PET, obtaining a mixture by uniformly mixing the molten PET, and performing an extrusion granulation process on the mixture.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a bonding resin, wherein lignin is provided in the form of an aqueous solution and mixed with one or more of a crosslinker and optionally one or more additives. The bonding resin is useful for example in the manufacture of laminates, mineral wool insulation and wood products such as plywood, oriented strandboard (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), medium density fiberboards (MDF), high density fiberboards (HDF), parquet flooring, curved plywood, veneered particleboards, veneered MDF or particle boards.

A thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend is provided, whereas the blend comprises (i) an amount of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer; (ii) an amount of lignin; and (iii) an amount of compatibilizing agent capable of imparting improved ductility and impact strength to the resultant blend. Methods of improving impact strength and ductility of a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer/lignin blend and articles made therefrom are also disclosed.

Modified lignin products, processes for making them, and their use to produce rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are disclosed. The processes comprise heating a lignin source with a nitrogen source and a starved concentration of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde to give a reaction mixture comprising a Mannich condensation product, neutralizing the reaction mixture, and isolating the modified lignin product. The process is performed at a mass ratio of lignin source to nitrogen source within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 and at a molar ratio of nitrogen source to C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde within the range of 3.5:1 to 1:1. Polyol blends and performance additives that contain the modified lignin products are described. Rigid foams that process well and incorporate up to 60 wt.%, based on the amount of polyol component, of the modified lignin contribute to excellent flame retardancy and low-temperature R-value performance.

Porous amorphous silica can be obtained from siliceous plant matter containing non-siliceous inorganic substances. The siliceous plant matter is soaked in an aqueous solution which includes a chelating agent. The chelating agent is present in an amount which helps to extract at least some of the non-siliceous inorganic matter. The aqueous solution is then separated from the siliceous plant matter. Beneficial properties are imparted to the siliceous plant matter by controlling the amount of at least one preselected non-siliceous inorganic substance in the siliceous plant matter. At the end of the process, the siliceous plant matter is heat treated in the presence of oxygen at a temperature to produce the resulting amorphous silica having the beneficial properties.

A process is disclosed for the production of an epoxy resin. This process includes providing lignin, one or more acids and/or esters derived from epoxidized vegetable oil(s), optionally a solvent and optionally a catalyst, to form a reactive mixture. The reactive mixture is mixed and cured in the presence of a curing agent to form the epoxy resin.

Provided is a stable lignin-phenol blend for use in lignin modified phenol-formaldehyde resins comprising lignin in an amount between 10-80 wt %, phenol in an amount between 15-90 wt %, and a solubilizer in an amount between 0%-25 wt %.