Systems and methods are provided that involve a subcritical water reaction to recycle the cellulose and polyester components of waste cotton and cotton/polyester blend textiles that would otherwise be discarded or disposed of. Specifically, the disclosed methods provide for treatment of the waste textiles to produce advanced materials including cellulose and terephthalic acid (TPA) with a low environmental impact. The cellulose and TPA that are produced are of a high quality allowing for production of regenerated cellulose and regenerated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for fiber spinning and textile applications.

Disclosed is a method for the use, as fire-retardant, of an aqueous composition including chitosan and at least one mineral filler, the inorganic filler being for example chosen from the group of mineral fillers in laminae, in particular chosen from the group consisting of talc, montmorillonite, saponite, sepiolite, bentonite, smectite, hectorite, kaolinite, halloysite and mica, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including the steps of providing cellulosic material, associating the cellulosic material with an organic acid (e.g., lactic acid) to form a mixture, and heating the mixture to a temperature between 100 C. and 120 C. for at least ten minutes to form a treated cellulosic material, wherein the water retention value of the treated cellulosic material is decreased by at least 10% as compared to untreated cellulosic material.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including the steps of providing cellulosic material, associating the cellulosic material with an organic acid (e.g., lactic acid) to form a mixture, and heating the mixture to a temperature between 100 C. and 120 C. for at least ten minutes to form a treated cellulosic material, wherein the water retention value of the treated cellulosic material is decreased by at least 10% as compared to untreated cellulosic material.

The present invention provides a fiber modifier composed of an internal olefin sulfonate having 17 or more and 24 or less carbons.

A method of producing a laminated body, the method including a coagulant solution deposition step of depositing a coagulant solution on a fiber substrate, and a coagulation step of forming a polymer layer on the fiber substrate by bringing a polymer latex into contact with the fiber substrate having the coagulant solution deposited thereon to cause a polymer to coagulate. As the coagulant solution, a solution obtained by dissolving or dispersing 0.2 to 7.0% by weight of a metal salt as a coagulant and 0.1 to 7.0% by weight of an organic acid in a solvent is used. In the method of producing a laminated body, the metal salt is a polyvalent metal salt. In the method of producing a laminated body, the organic acid is an organic acid having at least one group selected from a carboxyl group, a sulfo group, a hydroxy group, and a thiol group.

The disclosure provides a composition comprising a modified cellulosic surface having aliphatic fatty acid molecules and amine-silica particles that are covalently bonded to cellulose fibers of the cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a modified cellulosic surface including low surface energy molecules and amine functionalized nanotubes decorated with silica nanoparticles that are covalently bonded to cellulose fibers of the cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a process for increasing hydrophobicity of a cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a process for increasing hydrophobicity and surface roughness of a cellulosic surface. Also disclosed are products comprising the compositions and modified cellulosic surfaces of the present invention.

The disclosure provides a composition comprising a modified cellulosic surface having aliphatic fatty acid molecules and amine-silica particles that are covalently bonded to cellulose fibers of the cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a modified cellulosic surface including low surface energy molecules and amine functionalized nanotubes decorated with silica nanoparticles that are covalently bonded to cellulose fibers of the cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a process for increasing hydrophobicity of a cellulosic surface. Also disclosed is a process for increasing hydrophobicity and surface roughness of a cellulosic surface. Also disclosed are products comprising the compositions and modified cellulosic surfaces of the present invention.

A composition and method for microbial control on a material surface using a minimum risk pesticide such as a GRAS antimicrobial/preservative component. The GRAS antimicrobial/preservative component is preferably an organic acid.

Systems and methods are provided that involve a subcritical water reaction to recycle the cellulose and polyester components of waste cotton and cotton/polyester blend textiles that would otherwise be discarded or disposed of. Specifically, the disclosed methods provide for treatment of the waste textiles to produce advanced materials including cellulose and terephthalic acid (TPA) with a low environmental impact. The cellulose and TPA that are produced are of a high quality allowing for production of regenerated cellulose and regenerated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for fiber spinning and textile applications.