The present disclosure generally relates to a process for manufacturing a processable dried cellulose nanomaterial using a co-solvent of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), of which unique physical/chemical properties enable facile modification/derivatization. This present disclosure also relates to materials and process of generating of superhydrophobic surface coating using hydrophobic carboxylic acid modified cellulose nanofibers. Both the processes and the products thereof are within the scope of this disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor material including a cellulose nanocrystal. Particularly, according to the present disclosure, by attaching an electron withdrawing group to the surface of the cellulose nanocrystal, which is a nonconductor, holes are formed in the doped cellulose nanocrystal, and the cellulose nanocrystal may be used as a semiconductor material.

The present invention describes a method for the production of a spinning dope composition, said method comprising a homogenization involving vigorous mixing of a cellulosic pulp material in alkali solution, vigorous mixing implying supplying a power density to agitators used in the homogenization step of at least 150 k W/m.sup.3 (k W supplied to agitators per mixed unit of liquid volume), and thereafter a dissolution involving mixing of the cellulosic pulp material in the alkali solution to obtain a spinning dope composition, wherein the power density supplied to agitators used in the dissolution step is maximum 75 k W/m.sup.3 (k W supplied to agitators per mixed unit of liquid volume); and wherein the cellulosic pulp material in alkali solution is kept at a temperature of less than 0° C. during the homogenization and during at least part of the dissolution. The present invention is also directed to a system intended for the production of a spinning dope composition.

The disclosure discloses a multi-response cellulose nanocrystals-composite film and a preparation method thereof, belonging to the technical field of functional materials. The multi-response cellulose nanocrystals-composite film of the disclosure includes cellulose nanocrystals, a deep eutectic solvent and anthocyanins. The deep eutectic solvent is composed of choline chloride and biological sugar. A mass ratio of the choline chloride to the biological sugar is 1-20:1-6. A mass ratio of the cellulose nanocrystals to the deep eutectic solvent to the anthocyanins is 10:0-10:1, and the amount of the deep eutectic solvent is not 0. The preparation method of the composite film of the disclosure is simple and easy to operate, and has the advantages of mild conditions and short time consumption. The multi-response film prepared in the disclosure has humidity and pH detection functions, has the advantages of good flexibility, good reversibility, excellent stability, etc., and can be used as a flexible humidity and pH sensor.

A process for the production of cellulose, lignocellulosic sugars, lignosulfonate, and ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises steaming, pretreatment, chemical recovery, saccharification, and optionally fermentation. The pretreatment conditions use only sulfur dioxide and water, simultaneously resulting in high glucan conversion to glucose at low enzyme charges, high recovery of hemicellulose-derived monomeric sugars, high lignosulfonate yield, and the absence of lignin precipitates. High-yield production of ethanol through fermentation can be obtained using this process.

The present invention relates to a process for extracting oxidised metal pollutants from treated cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass to recover the metal. The treatment also generates a cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass which can to be used as a feedstock for biofuel, for making cellulose containing materials, and provides a source of other renewable chemicals.

Cellulose II nanocrystal particles have a crystallinity ≥80%, a number-average molecular weight ranging from 1200 to 2500, and a molecular weight distribution coefficient Mw/Mn≤1.30. The cellulose II nanocrystal particles can be prepared by: subjecting a cellulose raw material to an amorphization reconstitution and then to a crystallization acidolysis. The crystallization acidolysis may be carried out under a low concentration acidic condition. The method enables high efficient and clean production and quality control of cellulose nanocrystal materials.

The present invention describes a method for the production of a spinning dope composition, said method comprising a homogenization involving vigorous mixing of a cellulosic pulp material in alkali solution, vigorous mixing implying supplying a power density to agitators used in the homogenization step of at least 150 kW/m.sup.3 (kW supplied to agitators per mixed unit of liquid volume), and thereafter a dissolution involving mixing of the cellulosic pulp material in the alkali solution to obtain a spinning dope composition, wherein the power density supplied to agitators used in the dissolution step is maximum 75 kW/m.sup.3 (kW supplied to agitators per mixed unit of liquid volume); and wherein the cellulosic pulp material in alkali solution is kept at a temperature of less than 0° C. during the homogenization and during at least part of the dissolution. The present invention is also directed to a system intended for the production of a spinning dope composition.

A process for dissolving modified cellulose includes contacting modified cellulose solution with at least one multivalent cation to form a plurality of modified cellulose particles.

The present invention provides for a method of fermenting or saccharifying a biomass comprising: (a) (i) contacting a biomass comprising a polysaccharide, and an ionic liquid (IL) to form a first solution, or (ii) providing the first solution comprising the biomass and the IL, (b) contacting the first solution and carbon dioxide such that the first solution results in a lower pH, (c) introducing (i) an enzyme capable of enzymatically to breakdown at least one bond in the polysaccharide or a breakdown product of the polysaccharide, and/or (ii) a microorganism that capable of producing the enzyme and/or fermenting the polysaccharide or a breakdown product of the polysaccharide, such that the polysaccharide is at least partially broken down and the first solution is transformed into a second solution.