In some embodiments, a material comprises a contiguous block of chemically-modified wood infiltrated with an index-matching polymer. The contiguous block has a first section that is substantially transparent to light and a second section that is translucent or opaque. The first section can have a lower lignin content than the second section. Alternatively, the first section can have a chromophore state altered from that of the wood in its natural state, and the lignin in the second section can retain a chromophore state of the wood in its natural state. In some embodiments, a material comprises a section of wood chemically-modified such that chromophores of lignin within the wood in its natural state are altered or removed, and the section retains at least 70% of the lignin of the wood in its natural state. Methods for forming such materials are also disclosed.

In some embodiments, a material comprises a contiguous block of chemically-modified wood infiltrated with an index-matching polymer. The contiguous block has a first section that is substantially transparent to light and a second section that is translucent or opaque. The first section can have a lower lignin content than the second section. Alternatively, the first section can have a chromophore state altered from that of the wood in its natural state, and the lignin in the second section can retain a chromophore state of the wood in its natural state. In some embodiments, a material comprises a section of wood chemically-modified such that chromophores of lignin within the wood in its natural state are altered or removed, and the section retains at least 70% of the lignin of the wood in its natural state. Methods for forming such materials are also disclosed.

A novel pigment and a method to create the novel pigment are described. A raw material, such as municipal sewage sludge, municipal compost, food waste, agricultural waste, forestry waste, agroforestry waste, biomass, and/or livestock waste, is screened, cleaned, and/or prepared. The raw material is digested by microorganisms to create methane and a biosolid. The biosolid is dried and then carbonized to create a biochar. The biochar is ground into a powder pigment until a predetermined particle size is reached. The powder pigment having the predetermined particle size is applied to a medium to create at least one product, such as an ink, a paint, a stain, a colored material, and/or a dye.

A novel pigment and a method to create the novel pigment are described. A raw material, such as municipal sewage sludge, municipal compost, food waste, agricultural waste, forestry waste, agroforestry waste, biomass, and/or livestock waste, is screened, cleaned, and/or prepared. The raw material is digested by microorganisms to create methane and a biosolid. The biosolid is dried and then carbonized to create a biochar. The biochar is ground into a powder pigment until a predetermined particle size is reached. The powder pigment having the predetermined particle size is applied to a medium to create at least one product, such as an ink, a paint, a stain, a colored material, and/or a dye.

Disclosed herein is an environmentally friendly wood protecting method against biological deterioration such as fungal, bacterial and insect damage and non-biological wood deterioration such as weathering. The method comprises contacting a wood material with an aqueous solution of a zirconium salts which is followed by a heat treatment step, providing durable protection of wood against biodegradation and improving several other properties of the treated wood.

Disclosed herein is an environmentally friendly wood protecting method against biological deterioration such as fungal, bacterial and insect damage and non-biological wood deterioration such as weathering. The method comprises contacting a wood material with an aqueous solution of a zirconium salts which is followed by a heat treatment step, providing durable protection of wood against biodegradation and improving several other properties of the treated wood.