A method is provided for producing a composition comprising chitosan and water, comprising dissolving chitosan powder in an ionic liquid, to prepare a first composition comprising chitosan and ionic liquid; and contacting the first composition with water under conditions sufficient to solvent-exchange all or substantially all of the ionic liquid with water; to form a composition comprising chitosan and water. Compositions produced thereby and methods of using the compositions are provided.

Herein provided are methods for evaluating cellulose nanofiber dispersions, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a cellulose nanofiber dispersion; (2) adding a color material into the cellulose nanofiber dispersion; and (3) observing the cellulose nanofiber dispersion to which a colored pigment has been added with a light microscope. The methods allow for easy evaluation of whether or not agglomerates of cellulose nanofibers exist in cellulose nanofiber dispersions, which cannot be visually determined.

Herein provided are methods for evaluating cellulose nanofiber dispersions, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a cellulose nanofiber dispersion; (2) adding a color material into the cellulose nanofiber dispersion; and (3) observing the cellulose nanofiber dispersion to which a colored pigment has been added with a light microscope. The methods allow for easy evaluation of whether or not agglomerates of cellulose nanofibers exist in cellulose nanofiber dispersions, which cannot be visually determined.

The invention describes a method for the manufacture of a plasticized polyvinyl alcohol polymer mixture including the steps of introducing a polyvinyl alcohol or a blend thereof having a degree of hydrolysis in the range of 93% to 98% or more into a mixing reactor; adding a processing agent, and a plasticizer to form a reaction mixture; wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of the following compounds and mixtures thereof: (a) sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of: diglycerol, triglycerol, fructose, ribose, xylose, D-mannitol, triacetin, and mixtures thereof; polyols selected from the group consisting of: pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, and mixtures thereof; (b) diols selected from the group consisting of: methyl pentanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-butanediol, and mixtures thereof; (c) glycols selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, alkoxylated polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof; (d) caprolactam, tricyclic trimethylolpropane formal, rosin esters, euricamide, and mixtures thereof; reacting the reaction mixture in a reaction zone to form plasticized polymer; and allowing the plasticized polymer to pass from the reaction zone.

The invention describes a method for the manufacture of a plasticized polyvinyl alcohol polymer mixture including the steps of introducing a polyvinyl alcohol or a blend thereof having a degree of hydrolysis in the range of 93% to 98% or more into a mixing reactor; adding a processing agent, and a plasticizer to form a reaction mixture; wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of the following compounds and mixtures thereof: (a) sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of: diglycerol, triglycerol, fructose, ribose, xylose, D-mannitol, triacetin, and mixtures thereof; polyols selected from the group consisting of: pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, and mixtures thereof; (b) diols selected from the group consisting of: methyl pentanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol, 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-butanediol, and mixtures thereof; (c) glycols selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, alkoxylated polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof; (d) caprolactam, tricyclic trimethylolpropane formal, rosin esters, euricamide, and mixtures thereof; reacting the reaction mixture in a reaction zone to form plasticized polymer; and allowing the plasticized polymer to pass from the reaction zone.

The present invention concerns a method for producing a hydrogel comprising the following steps in succession: a first step (i) of providing at least one powder of an anionic polymer (A) and at least one chitosan powder (B) comprising amine functions (—NH.sub.2); a second step (ii) consisting in dry mixing at least the powders (A) and (B) from the first step in order to form a mixture of powders; a third step (iii) of suspending the mixture of powders obtained from the second step in an aqueous medium having a pH that can enable the anionic polymer (A) to be dissolved without dissolving the chitosan (B); a fourth step (iv) of adding an acid to the suspension obtained from the third step in order to form the hydrogel; or the third (iii) and fourth (iv) steps are replaced by a mixing fifth step (v), comprising mixing an acidified aqueous medium including at least one compound (C) comprising at least one unit of a hexose or a unit derived from a hexose, and/or at least one phosphate of said compound (C), with said mixture comprising at least the powders (A) and (B) obtained from the second step (ii).

The present invention concerns a method for producing a hydrogel comprising the following steps in succession: a first step (i) of providing at least one powder of an anionic polymer (A) and at least one chitosan powder (B) comprising amine functions (—NH.sub.2); a second step (ii) consisting in dry mixing at least the powders (A) and (B) from the first step in order to form a mixture of powders; a third step (iii) of suspending the mixture of powders obtained from the second step in an aqueous medium having a pH that can enable the anionic polymer (A) to be dissolved without dissolving the chitosan (B); a fourth step (iv) of adding an acid to the suspension obtained from the third step in order to form the hydrogel; or the third (iii) and fourth (iv) steps are replaced by a mixing fifth step (v), comprising mixing an acidified aqueous medium including at least one compound (C) comprising at least one unit of a hexose or a unit derived from a hexose, and/or at least one phosphate of said compound (C), with said mixture comprising at least the powders (A) and (B) obtained from the second step (ii).

Disclosed are solid or semisolid compositions the including finely divided particles and a water-soluble matrix that dissolves and disperses the particles when in contact with water. Also disclosed are kits for reducing and/or inhibiting odor formation on garment. The kit include one or more containers, wherein at least one of the one or more container includes solid or semisolid compositions the including finely divided particles and a water-soluble matrix that dissolves and disperses the particles when in contact with water. An edible silver delivery system including the compositions is disclosed as are methods of delivering silver to a subject in need thereof.

Disclosed are solid or semisolid compositions the including finely divided particles and a water-soluble matrix that dissolves and disperses the particles when in contact with water. Also disclosed are kits for reducing and/or inhibiting odor formation on garment. The kit include one or more containers, wherein at least one of the one or more container includes solid or semisolid compositions the including finely divided particles and a water-soluble matrix that dissolves and disperses the particles when in contact with water. An edible silver delivery system including the compositions is disclosed as are methods of delivering silver to a subject in need thereof.

Provided are a dispersion composition in which a resin having carboxyl groups is dispersed, and which is a resin aqueous dispersion composition having a relatively high resin concentration but a relatively low viscosity, and a method for producing the same.