According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising colloidal lignin particles and an epoxy compound.

A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product is provided and includes: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; and irrigating the growth substrate product. The aqueous binder composition prior to curing includes a component (i) in the form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in the form of one or more cross-linkers, and a component (iii) in the form of one or more plasticizers.

A lignin dispersion composition comprising spherical lignin particles dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein the spherical lignin particles have a size exclusively within a range of 100 nm to 5 microns. Also described herein is a method of producing the lignin dispersion, by: (i) dissolving lignin in an organic solvent substantially devoid of water yet miscible with water to result in a solution of the lignin in the organic solvent; and (ii) producing the lignin dispersion by dialyzing the solution of the lignin with water until substantially all of the organic solvent is replaced with water with simultaneous formation of spherical lignin particles dispersed in the water. Also described herein is a method for stabilizing an emulsion by intimately mixing the emulsion with the lignin dispersion. Also described herein is a hierarchical assembly of porous microparticles produced by mixing the lignin dispersion with an emulsion and an amphiphilic block copolymer.

The disclosure relates to façade system for a building, in particular an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS), comprising a thermal and/or acoustic insulation, consisting of at least one insulation element being a bonded mineral fibre product made of mineral fibres, preferably stone wool fibres, and a cured aqueous binder composition, whereby the insulation element is fixed to an outer surface of the building by mechanical fastening elements and/or an adhesive, covered with a rendering, and whereby the aqueous binder composition prior to curing comprises a component (i) in form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in form of one or more cross-linkers, a component (iii) in form of one or more plasticizers, and whereby the insulation element has a bulk density between 70 kg/m.sup.3 and 150 kg/m.sup.3.

The present invention provides methods for preparing the nut waste composites from a nut waste component, one or more binders, and an oil using a compounder/extruder.

The present invention concerns a method for depolymerizing oxygenated polymer materials and the use of said method in the recycling of plastic materials and the preparation of aromatic compounds that can be used as fuel, synthesis intermediates and raw materials in the construction sectors and in the petrochemical, electrical, electronic, textile, aeronautical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agrochemical industries. The present invention also concerns the use of aromatic compounds obtained by the method for depolymerizing oxygenated polymer materials according to the invention, in the production of fuels, electronic components, plastic polymers, rubber, drugs, vitamins, cosmetic products, perfumes, food products, synthetic threads and fibres, synthetic leathers, glues, pesticides and fertilizers.

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

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.

A privacy apparatus includes one or more substantially cork panels. Each panel can be configured to provide visual and/or sound privacy for a certain work space. The panel can be supported on a floor via one or more base elements and/or may be reinforced in rigidity and/or strength via one or more supports. Some embodiments of the apparatus can include a first panel and a second panel attached together via one or more supports press fit within openings defined in rear faces of the panels.

The present invention provides a method for extracting a solid purified product from an alkaline polysaccharide-containing precursor material, comprising the steps of: (a) neutralising the alkaline polysaccharide-containing precursor material with an acid and obtaining a neutralised solid polysaccharide-containing material; (b) mixing the neutralised solid polysaccharide-containing material with bleach to create a mixture; and (c) separating a solid purified product from the mixture.