The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a biopolymer chemically modified with a functional group selected from a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond and a nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond, wherein following chemical modification in an aqueous solution, the biopolymer is precipitated in an organic solvent, filtered and dried, and the organic solvent is recovered by distillation. A biopolymer chemically modified with a functional group selected from a carbon-carbon double bond, a carbon-carbon triple bond and a nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond obtained by said manufacturing process, and a hydrogel thereof are also provided.

Provided are a siloxane composition, said siloxane composition showing physical properties between a dimethyl polysiloxane oil and a gelatinous crosslinked siloxane and being fluid or becoming fluid when dissolved in a solvent, and a method for producing the same.

The siloxane composition, which is obtained by subjecting specific starting organopolysiloxane materials to an addition reaction in a large excess (i.e., 8 times by mass or greater as much as the starting materials) of a solvent, comprises a crosslinked organopolysiloxane, said crosslinked organopolysiloxane having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000-300,000,000 and containing 0.1-50 mol of silethylene bond per 1,000 mol of siloxane unit, dissolved in the solvent.

Disclosed are methods for dissolving biopolymers and synthetic polymers using mixtures of different ionic liquids and compositions comprising the mixture. The methods involve contacting a polymer with a mixture of ionic liquids to provide a composition of polymer and the mixture; the mixture of ionic liquids is prepared by either mixing ionic liquids or by a process comprising reacting ionic liquid precursors in one-pot to form the ionic liquids.

Provided are a siloxane composition, said siloxane composition showing physical properties between a dimethyl polysiloxane oil and a gelatinous crosslinked siloxane and being fluid or becoming fluid when dissolved in a solvent, and a method for producing the same. The siloxane composition, which is obtained by subjecting specific starting organopolysiloxane materials to an addition reaction in a large excess (i.e., 8 times by mass or greater as much as the starting materials) of a solvent, comprises a crosslinked organopolysiloxane, said crosslinked organopolysiloxane having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000-300,000,000 and containing 0.1-50 mol of silethylene bond per 1,000 mol of siloxane unit, dissolved in the solvent.

A silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is curable by an addition reaction, condensation reaction, or a radical reaction with the use of an organic peroxide, and is characterized by comprising an azeotropic solvent such as a mixture of an aromatic solvent, and an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic ester. Although the silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition can be cured by heating at relatively low temperatures, the residual solvent in a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive can be reduced.

A method for the manufacture of agar or agarose beads, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a water phase comprising an aqueous solution of agar or agarose at a temperature above the gelling temperature of said aqueous solution; ii) providing an oil phase comprising a natural or vegetable oil at a temperature above the gelling temperature of the aqueous solution provided in step i); iii) combining the water phase provided in step i) with the oil phase provided in step ii) in a reactor, and adding an emulsifier; iv) emulsifying the mixture obtained in step iii), preferably by agitating the mixture, thereby creating an emulsion; v) performing a stepwise cooling comprising a first cooling step for cooling the emulsion obtained in step iv) to a temperature 0.1-30 degrees C. above the gelling temperature of the aqueous solution provided in step i), followed by a second cooling step for emptying the reactor from the emulsion and passing the emulsion through a heat exchanger, thus resulting in cooling of the emulsion to a temperature below the gelling temperature of the aqueous solution provided in step i); and vi) recovering of agar or agarose beads from said emulsion.

This invention relates to gel compositions for filling cables, such as communication cables, in particular to gel compositions containing microspheres, to cables comprising said gels, and to methods of preparing such gel.

A bio-degradable plant pot having calcium carbonate. And a method for preparing a rooting plug. The method calls for mixing a composition having (i) 0.2%-10% w/w bio-degradable polymer and (ii) an organic non-hydroxylic solvent with plug mix, thereby preparing a rooting plug.

A liquid composition comprising at least one aprotic organic solvent and at least one fluorinated ion exchange polymer which consists of recurring units derived from a chlorofluoroolefin of formula CF.sub.2CCIY, wherein Y is F or CI, and from at least one fluorinated functional monomer selected among those of formula CF.sub.2CFO(CF.sub.2CF(CF.sub.3)O).sub.m(CF.sub.2).sub.nSO.sub.2X, wherein m is an integer equal to 0 or 1, n is an integer from 0 to 10 and X is chosen among halogens (CI, F, Br, I), O.sup.M.sup.+, wherein M.sup.+ is a cation selected among H.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, K.sup.+, Li.sup.+, Na.sup.+, or mixtures thereof is disclosed. The liquid composition is suitable for the preparation of ion exchange membranes, in particular composite membranes, for use in fuel cell applications.

Asphalt-based compositions that contain little or no VOCs. The compositions are particularly useful for roofing applications, including as plastic roofing cement, flashing cement, roof coatings, and primers. The compositions include asphalt, a VOC-free solvent, a surfactant and clay. The compositions may also include fibers, technical or functional fillers, and a wet surface adhesion additive. The compositions may further include aluminum flakes for enhanced durability, strength, reflectivity and colorants for enhanced appearance.