Methods and compositions for improving performance of flocculants in an industrial production process. Methods include pH triggered cross-linking reaction between a flocculating agent, such as dextran, and a composition comprising a boronic acid-containing polymer. The pH trigger can be provided by a fluid having a pH of 8 or more. The production process can be a Bayer Process and the fluid is caustic liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the Bayer, wherein the reaction time is reduced over conventional methods and the cross-linked dextran composition effectuates improved flocculation of the trihydrate particles.

Methods and compositions for improving performance of flocculants in an industrial production process. Methods include pH triggered cross-linking reaction between a flocculating agent, such as dextran, and a composition comprising a boronic acid-containing polymer. The pH trigger can be provided by a fluid having a pH of 8 or more. The production process can be a Bayer Process and the fluid is caustic liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the Bayer, wherein the reaction time is reduced over conventional methods and the cross-linked dextran composition effectuates improved flocculation of the trihydrate particles.

The present invention discloses a freezing-illumination method for preparing porous gels, comprising the steps of: (a) synthesizing the gels containing dynamic exchangeable bonds; (b) illuminating the gels under frozen state by certain wavelength light source; (c) elevating the temperature and melt the ice crystals within the gels to get the porous structure. The dynamic exchangeable bonds existing in the gels include double/multi-sulfur bond, hydrazine bond, boronic ester bond. Catalyst is also included in the gel composition to activate the bond exchange reactions under illumination. This new method for preparing porous gels is easy to operate and suitable for most kinds of gels. Meanwhile, it can spatially control the pore structure within the gels by local illumination.

The present invention discloses a freezing-illumination method for preparing porous gels, comprising the steps of: (a) synthesizing the gels containing dynamic exchangeable bonds; (b) illuminating the gels under frozen state by certain wavelength light source; (c) elevating the temperature and melt the ice crystals within the gels to get the porous structure. The dynamic exchangeable bonds existing in the gels include double/multi-sulfur bond, hydrazine bond, boronic ester bond. Catalyst is also included in the gel composition to activate the bond exchange reactions under illumination. This new method for preparing porous gels is easy to operate and suitable for most kinds of gels. Meanwhile, it can spatially control the pore structure within the gels by local illumination.

The object of the invention is polymer compositions comprising cross-linked polymer comprising boronic ester functions enabling exchange reactions, as well as free monofunctional boronic esters. The compositions are obtained from the modification of a polymer by a functionalized boronic ester additive. This polymer can be pre-functionalized boronic ester or functionalized on addition of the said additive. In particular, the invention relates to a process enabling the behavior of a polymer to be modified by addition of a functional additive, enabling a cross-linked network containing exchangeable boronic ester links to be formed.

The object of the invention is polymer compositions comprising cross-linked polymer comprising boronic ester functions enabling exchange reactions, as well as free monofunctional boronic esters. The compositions are obtained from the modification of a polymer by a functionalized boronic ester additive. This polymer can be pre-functionalized boronic ester or functionalized on addition of the said additive. In particular, the invention relates to a process enabling the behavior of a polymer to be modified by addition of a functional additive, enabling a cross-linked network containing exchangeable boronic ester links to be formed.

The present invention provides a functional film including a copolymer that contains a repeating unit represented by Formula (I) and a repeating unit represented by Formula (II) shown in the description, or a crosslinked reaction product derived from the copolymer; a polarizing plate having this functional film; and a display device.

The present invention relates to a composition for removing a radionuclide, including: a first polymer including a hydroxy group; a second polymer into which a boronic acid group is introduced as a functional group; and an adsorbent for removing the radionuclide, and a method for removing a radionuclide using the same.

The present invention relates to a composition for removing a radionuclide, including: a first polymer including a hydroxy group; a second polymer into which a boronic acid group is introduced as a functional group; and an adsorbent for removing the radionuclide, and a method for removing a radionuclide using the same.

A copolymer includes a repeating unit represented by Formula (I); and a repeating unit represented by Formula (II), in Formula (I), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having at least one fluorine atom as a substituent, or a group including Si(R.sup.a3)(R.sup.a4)O; L represents a divalent linking group as defined herein; and R.sup.a3 and R.sup.a4 each independently represent an alkyl group as defined herein, in Formula (II), R.sup.10 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group; R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 may be linked to each other; and X.sup.1 represents a divalent linking group.