Sulfate ester modified cellulose nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in the range of 1 nm to 500 nm, and having sulfate ester modified hydroxyl groups on surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers that are nanosized, that have a high crystallinity degree, and that have large aspect ratios, the method being a chemical method that does not require any physical pulverization, that is energy-saving, and that can be performed under mild reaction conditions. A method of producing modified cellulose nanofibers including modifying the surfaces of the cellulose nanofibers through esterification or urethanization. A method of producing cellulose nanofibers includes impregnating cellulose with a fibrillation solution containing dimethylsulfoxide, at least one carboxylic acid anhydride selected from acetic anhydride and propionic anhydride, and sulfuric acid to fibrillate the cellulose.

Disclosed are systems and methods for producing particles of organic substances, in particular nanoparticles and microparticles of active pharmaceutical ingredients, wherein the particles are collected in the aid of an extension member engaged to a collection chamber and positioning a nozzle.

A process that allows the extraction of compounds of nutraceutical interest (specifically omega-3 and carotenoids) from microalgae and their separation through the use of CO.sub.2 in supercritical conditions (and when necessary a co-solvent), at the same time, wherein the removal of an unwanted component (tripalmitin) from the lipid extract, always by using supercritical CO.sub.2 in a fractional extraction, is advantageously carried out using its different extraction kinetics respect to the component present in the lipid phase.

A dietary supplement composition includes a shelf stable, supercritical CO.sub.2 fluid extracted, enhanced lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr) having about an enrichment of lauric, myristic, oleic and linoleic free fatty acids to total free fatty acids greater than about 82.0% and a ratio of free fatty acids to total fatty acids greater than about 80.0%. A method of making the enhanced LSESr includes subjecting aged saw palmetto powder to supercritical CO.sub.2 extraction followed by first and second separations.

The invention relates to a method for the fractioned separation of valuable substances from aqueous many-component mixtures such as aqueous wastes, sludges and sewage sludge under supercritical conditions. The invention also comprises valuable substance fractions that are enriched after the method according to the invention, more particularly phosphorous-containing and phosphorous- and ammonium-containing compounds such as fertilisers and synthesis gas as an energy source and as a valuable substance for the chemicals industry. The invention comprises devices for carrying out the methods. With the method and devices according to the invention, valuable substances can be completely recovered from wastes, sludges and sewage sludge and given a new use. The methods and devices are particularly suitable for recovering phosphorous and ammonium in the form of plant-available fertiliser, for recovering metals and heavy metals, for producing synthesis gas and for obtaining hydrogen from synthesis gas, i.e. for mobility.

Described herein is an ice melting composition that includes at least one solvent, at least one deicing agent, and at least one additive. Possible additives include ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, dispersants and combinations thereof. The composition exhibits an increased saturation point due to the addition of the additives thereby reducing or eliminating precipitation of the deicing agent at low temperatures. Also described herein are methods of melting ice or preventing ice from forming on a surface. The methods include applying the ice melting composition to the surface either before or after ice forms.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for processing a slurry containing organic components, such as biomass, having a water contents of at least 50%, comprising a heat exchanger (7) to heat the slurry and a reactor (8) to convert at least a part of the organic components in the slurry, wherein at least one of the heat exchanger (7) and the reactor (8) comprises one or more pipes (7A; 8A). At least one transport screw (15) is accommodated in the pipe (7A; 8A) or at least one of the pipes (7A; 8A).

A process for treatment of biomasses including chitin with a process solvent selected from: an eutectic solvent consisting of a hydrogen bond acceptor and at least one hydrogen bond donor, an ionic liquid, and a mixture of the eutectic solvent and the ionic liquid, may include the steps of: A. mixing of a biomass with the process solvent and precipitation; and B. separating of the chitin precipitated in step A from a rest of the mixture. The hydrogen bond acceptor may be a choline salt with an C.sub.2-C.sub.6 organic acid, containing at least one carboxyl group and optionally substituted in the alkyl chain with at least one hydroxyl group. The at least one hydrogen bond donor may be an organic acid selected from: glycolic acid, diglycolic acid, levulinic acid, or imidazole. When the hydrogen bond acceptor is choline glycolate, the at least one hydrogen bond donor is not glycolic acid.

A method for manufacturing metal phosphate hydrate nanoparticles wherein metal reactants are selected from metal precursors of transition metals,phosphate precursors are selected from: Trisodium phosphate Na.sub.3PO.sub.4, disodium phosphate Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, phosphoric acid H.sub.3PO.sub.4 and hypophosphoric acid H.sub.4P.sub.2O.sub.6, wherein said method comprises the following step of a reaction medium comprising at least a metal reactant, a phosphate precursor and a solvent, is submitted to a solvothermal treatment at a pressure superior to 50 MPa, and at a temperature of from 100 to 350° C.

This document relates to energetic salts that contain an organic cation and an oxidizing anion and methods of using the energetic salt compositions, including methods of hydraulic fracturing, pressure pulse fracturing, formation damage removal, and lowering the viscosity of heavy oil.