A silicon glycan is provided. The silicon glycan comprises a glycoside moiety, independently selected organosilicon moieties, and beta-amino alcohol moieties joining the organosilicon moieties to the glycoside moiety. The glycoside moiety comprises independently selected saccharide moieties, which may be substituted with hydrocarbyl groups, ether moieties, and/or amine moieties. A method of preparing the silicon glycan is also provided. The method includes reacting (A) an aminoethyl polysaccharide and (B) an epoxide-functional organosilicon compound, to give the silicon glycan. The method may include preparing the aminoethyl polysaccharide (A) by first reacting (At) a hydroxyl-functional polysaccharide and (A2) an aziridinium halide compound to give the aminoethyl polysaccharide (A).

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.

Various processes are disclosed for producing nanocellulose materials following steam extraction or hot-water digestion of biomass. Processes are also disclosed for producing nanocellulose materials from a wide variety of starting pulps or pretreated biomass feedstocks. The nanocellulose materials may be used as rheology modifiers in many applications. Water-based and oil-based drilling fluid formulations and additives are provided. Also, water-based and oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations and additives are provided. In other embodiments, polymer-nanocellulose composites are provided.

Various processes are disclosed for producing nanocellulose materials following steam extraction or hot-water digestion of biomass. Processes are also disclosed for producing nanocellulose materials from a wide variety of starting pulps or pretreated biomass feedstocks. The nanocellulose materials may be used as rheology modifiers in many applications. Water-based and oil-based drilling fluid formulations and additives are provided. Also, water-based and oil-based hydraulic fracturing fluid formulations and additives are provided. In other embodiments, polymer-nanocellulose composites are provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide a salt water thickener that uniformly (favorably) disperses ultrafine cellulose fibers even in a liquid containing a salt (electrolyte). The salt water thickener comprises ultrafine cellulose fibers and a water-soluble polymer and can thereby uniformly disperse the ultrafine cellulose fibers even in a liquid containing a salt. The salt water thickener of the present invention is uniformly dispersed even in a liquid containing a salt and therefore exerts a high viscosity. The salt water thickener of the present invention can also be used as an additive for a fluid. The salt water thickener of the present invention can be used for purposes, for example, subterranean formation processing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a salt water thickener that uniformly (favorably) disperses ultrafine cellulose fibers even in a liquid containing a salt (electrolyte). The salt water thickener comprises ultrafine cellulose fibers and a water-soluble polymer and can thereby uniformly disperse the ultrafine cellulose fibers even in a liquid containing a salt. The salt water thickener of the present invention is uniformly dispersed even in a liquid containing a salt and therefore exerts a high viscosity. The salt water thickener of the present invention can also be used as an additive for a fluid. The salt water thickener of the present invention can be used for purposes, for example, subterranean formation processing.

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.

Some variations provide a new nanolignocellulose composition comprising, on a bone-dry, ash-free, and acetyl-free basis, from 35 wt % to 80 wt % cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose microfibrils, or a combination thereof, from 15 wt % to 45 wt % lignin, and from 5 wt % to 20 wt % hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses may contain xylan or mannan as the major component. Novel properties arise from the hemicellulose content that is intermediate between high hemicellulose content of raw biomass and low hemicellulose content of conventional nanocellulose. The nanolignocellulose composition is hydrophobic due to the presence of lignin. Processes for making and using the nanolignocellulose compositions are also described.

A nanosilica containing fluid system for shale stabilization in a shale formation. The nanosilica containing fluid system comprising a functionalized nanosilica composition operable to react with shale at the surface of the shale formation to form a barrier on the shale formation. The functionalized nanosilica composition comprising a nanosilica particle, the nanosilica particle having a mean diameter, and a functionalization compound, the functionalization compound appended to the surface of the nanosilica particle. And an aqueous-based fluid, the aqueous-based fluid operable to carry the functionalized nanosilica composition into the shale formation. The functionalization compound is an amino silane. The aqueous-based fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, deionized water, sea water, brine, and combinations thereof.