The present invention aims to provide a rubber composition which has further enhanced dispersion of microfibrillated cellulose in rubber to provide excellent processability and further to provide excellent rigidity, tensile properties, and fuel economy while maintaining a good balance between them. The present invention also aims to provide a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition with high productivity which provides excellent handling stability, durability, and rolling resistance properties while maintaining a good balance between them. The rubber composition of the present invention contains: a rubber component; a chemically modified microfibrillated cellulose; and a filler, the chemically modified microfibrillated cellulose having a structure in which the hydroxyl hydrogen atoms of microfibrillated cellulose are partly substituted with a cationic group of a cationic group-containing compound.

The present disclosure provides methods for functionalizing the surfaces of cellulose nanoparticles. In embodiments, nanoparticles are aerosolized, and then passed through a flow reactor where they are contacted with gaseous reactants to functionalize the surface of the nanoparticles. In other embodiments, the nanoparticles are aerosolized, and then passed through a plasma reactor where they are contacted with gaseous reactants to functionalize the surface of the nanoparticles. Once the functionalized nanoparticles are produced, they may be combined with polymers to form polymer composites having both a polymer and the functionalized nanoparticles. Systems for producing these functionalized nanoparticles, coupled with downstream polymer processing equipment for forming the polymer composites, are also provided.

The present invention is directed to the production of a biopolymer, which may be applied both as an additive in the papermaking process, aiming at improving the physical and mechanical properties thereof in the process for producing cellulose, facilitating the drying process of the same, while conferring the same properties mentioned above for the production of paper, when it is processed. The present invention further relates to the process for producing said biopolymer, the papermaking process, the process for producing cellulose, the use of said biopolymer and the product comprising said biopolymer.

An aqueous solution comprising a cationic polymer dissolved in water, wherein said cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium group covalently attached to a hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer backbone. Also, a method of delivering a drug to a mucosal surface in a living body, said method comprising applying the aqueous solution to said mucosal surface.

Cationic and silicon substituents are introduced into polysaccharides thereby producing modified polysaccharides cationically substituted by quaternary ammonium groups and having a charge density of about 0.1 to about 2.5 meq/g, and further substituted by siliconate groups such that the modified polysaccharide has a silicon content of about 300 to about 5000 ppm. The modified polysaccharides have application in industrial, home care and personal care surface modifying formulations.

Cationic and silicon substituents are introduced into polysaccharides thereby producing modified polysaccharides cationically substituted by quaternary ammonium groups and having a charge density of about 0.1 to about 2.5 meq/g, and further substituted by siliconate groups such that the modified polysaccharide has a silicon content of about 300 to about 5000 ppm. The modified polysaccharides have application in industrial, home care and personal care surface modifying formulations.

A cellulose nanofiber with little contaminants and a high transparency is provided. A filtration method of a cellulose nanofiber dispersion including a step of filtering a cellulose nanofiber dispersion under elevated or reduced pressure by at least one of the filtration processes: (A) a filtration process using a filter aid; (B) a filtration process using a filter media selected from the group consisting of a metal porous filter media, an inorganic material porous filter media, and a polymer porous filter media; and (C) a filtration process using both the filter aid and the filter media.

An aqueous solution comprising a cationic polymer dissolved in water, wherein said cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium group covalently attached to a hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer backbone. Also, a method of delivering a drug to a mucosal surface in a living body, said method comprising applying the aqueous solution to said mucosal surface.

An aqueous solution comprising a cationic polymer dissolved in water, wherein said cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium group covalently attached to a hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer backbone. Also, a method of delivering a drug to a mucosal surface in a living body, said method comprising applying the aqueous solution to said mucosal surface.

Cationic and silicon substituents are introduced into polysaccharides thereby producing modified polysaccharides cationically substituted by quaternary ammonium groups and having a charge density of about 0.1 to about 2.5 meq/g, and further substituted by siliconate groups such that the modified polysaccharide has a silicon content of about 300 to about 5000 ppm. The modified polysaccharides have application in industrial, home care and personal care surface modifying formulations.