The present disclosure provides novel paper sheet mulch products having benefits over prior sheet mulches, which may include brown or recycled fibers, as well as additives, such as opacity, water-resistant, and strength additives, resulting in mulch products with an improved combination of basis weight, stretch, strength, opacity, and/or water-resistance characteristics.

The invention relates to the use of expanded graphite for reducing flammability and/or combustibility, in particular the use thereof as a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent, for materials and/or products which consist of or comprise wood fibers, cellulose fibers, wood powder, cellulose powder, wood granulates, cellulose granulates, and/or polyolefin-based materials. The invention further relates to materials and/or products which consist of or comprise wood fibers, cellulose fibers, wood powder, cellulose powder, wood granulates, cellulose granulates and/or polyolefin-based materials. In order to reduce the flammability and/or combustibility, expanded graphite is embedded into the materials and/or products, in particular in the form of a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent. The invention also relates to such an agent, in particular a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent, wherein expanded graphite is used alone or in combination with a boric acid/borax/alkali salt mixture. A particularly preferred area of use is binders, glues, and/or materials, products, and/or pre-products containing polyolefin-based materials in particular, preferably for damping (walls, floors, ceilings) and/or for floor and wall fittings. The invention is characterized by surprising advantages in fire protection tests with vertical edge flaming.

The invention relates to the use of expanded graphite for reducing flammability and/or combustibility, in particular the use thereof as a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent, for materials and/or products which consist of or comprise wood fibers, cellulose fibers, wood powder, cellulose powder, wood granulates, cellulose granulates, and/or polyolefin-based materials. The invention further relates to materials and/or products which consist of or comprise wood fibers, cellulose fibers, wood powder, cellulose powder, wood granulates, cellulose granulates and/or polyolefin-based materials. In order to reduce the flammability and/or combustibility, expanded graphite is embedded into the materials and/or products, in particular in the form of a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent. The invention also relates to such an agent, in particular a flame protection agent and/or a fire protection agent, wherein expanded graphite is used alone or in combination with a boric acid/borax/alkali salt mixture. A particularly preferred area of use is binders, glues, and/or materials, products, and/or pre-products containing polyolefin-based materials in particular, preferably for damping (walls, floors, ceilings) and/or for floor and wall fittings. The invention is characterized by surprising advantages in fire protection tests with vertical edge flaming.

A method and apparatus for contacting and reacting fine cellulosic material with acid to produce partly-hydrolyzed cellulose, in which the cellulose is compressed to form higher density material, resulting in reduced consumption of acid and increased uniformity of reaction times. Cellulosic material, such as ground wood pulp, is compressed to reduce the interstitial spaces therein. The compressed material is contacted with an acid, such as sulfuric acid, which is allowed to wick into the interstitial spaces and react with the cellulose to produce partly-hydrolyzed cellulose.

A method and apparatus for contacting and reacting fine cellulosic material with acid to produce partly-hydrolyzed cellulose, in which the cellulose is compressed to form higher density material, resulting in reduced consumption of acid and increased uniformity of reaction times. Cellulosic material, such as ground wood pulp, is compressed to reduce the interstitial spaces therein. The compressed material is contacted with an acid, such as sulfuric acid, which is allowed to wick into the interstitial spaces and react with the cellulose to produce partly-hydrolyzed cellulose.

The invention relates to a method for reducing bacterial endospores in an aqueous fibre suspension comprising recycled cellulosic fibres, wherein the fibre suspension has an original endospore amount, preferably of 10 000 CFU/ml. The method comprises adjusting the pH of the fibre suspension to a pH value of 6.5, adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the fibre suspension to an ORP value of 200 mV with a first oxidizing agent, and introducing an amount of performic acid as a second oxidizing agent to the fibre suspension for reducing the bacterial endospores to an endospore amount of 1000 CFU/ml.

The invention relates to a method for reducing bacterial endospores in an aqueous fibre suspension comprising recycled cellulosic fibres, wherein the fibre suspension has an original endospore amount, preferably of 10 000 CFU/ml. The method comprises adjusting the pH of the fibre suspension to a pH value of 6.5, adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of the fibre suspension to an ORP value of 200 mV with a first oxidizing agent, and introducing an amount of performic acid as a second oxidizing agent to the fibre suspension for reducing the bacterial endospores to an endospore amount of 1000 CFU/ml.

A softener composition for use in the manufacture of paper includes a softener and an acidic material, wherein the softener composition has a relative acidity (RA) value of more than 0.05.

A softener composition for use in the manufacture of paper includes a softener and an acidic material, wherein the softener composition has a relative acidity (RA) value of more than 0.05.

The invention is directed to composition for use in the process of coloring surfaces, such as fabrics, comprising cultivated microalgae, processes for its preparation and use thereof.