A process for producing a crosslinked cellulose ether including the steps of (i) contacting at least one cellulose material with a mixture comprising (ia) at least one crosslinking agent and (ib) at least one alkalization reagent to form an activated cellulose material; and (ii) contacting the activated cellulose material of step (i) with at least one etherification reagent; wherein the at least one etherification reagent reacts with the activated cellulose material to form the crosslinked cellulose ether; and a crosslinked cellulose ether produced by the above process.

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing carboxymethyl cellulose particles, cellulose inducer particles manufactured by the method, and an absorbent article comprising same. The method comprises: (1) a step of obtaining alkalized cellulose by reacting a cellulose raw material with an alkalizer; (2) a step of obtaining carboxymethyl cellulose by reacting the alkalized cellulose with a carboxy methylating agent; (3) a primary cross-linking step of obtaining a slurry-phase carboxymethyl cellulose cross-linked body by reacting the carboxymethyl cellulose with a core cross-linker; (4) a step of washing and dehydrating after filtering the slurry-phase carboxymethyl cellulose cross-linked body; (5) a secondary cross-linking step of obtaining carboxymethyl cellulose having a core-shell structure by reacting the carboxymethyl cellulose cross-linked body having undergone Step (4) with a surface cross-linker; and (6) a step of obtaining carboxymethyl cellulose particles having a core-shell structure by drying and pulverizing the carboxymethyl cellulose having a core-shell structure.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polymer hydrogel, comprising cross-linking a precursor comprising a hydrophilic polymer optionally in combination with a second hydrophilic polymer, using a polycarboxylic acid as the cross-linking agent. The invention further concerns the polymer hydrogel obtainable by the method of the invention and the use thereof in a number of different applications.

Polymer conjugates are provided that are capable of mimicking functions of natural proteoglycans found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. The polymer conjugates of the invention have utility in treating a subject suffering soft tissue conditions. Also provided are simple and scalable chemical processes for the preparation of the polymer conjugates of the invention.

The present invention provides methods, compositions and modified foods and foodstuffs useful for weight management and glycemic control.

A method of making a proppant-gel matrix comprising: a) hydrating a gelling agent to form a hydrated gelling agent; b) adding a basic compound to the hydrated gelling agent to form a basic hydrated gelling agent having a pH in the range of 11.5 to 14.0; c) mixing the basic hydrated gelling agent and a proppant to form a basic hydrated gelling system; and d) adding a crosslinking agent to the basic hydrated gelling system to form the proppant-gel matrix, is disclosed. The proppant-gel matrix can then be used as a fracturing fluid in a hydraulic fracturing process.

The present invention provides novel hybrid polymers having unique physical properties. The hybrid polymers comprise a cellulose ether moiety, a linking group moiety, a spacer group moiety, and a lactam moiety. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the hybrid polymers and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers. In a first embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:
A-(L.sub.1-S—(B).sub.k).sub.q
wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.1 is a linking group moiety selected from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, esters, carbonates, and phosphate esters, or is derived from a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, cyclic ethers, and aziridines; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein k≥1 and q≥1. In a second embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:
A-(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y
wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; L.sub.2 is an ether linking group moiety; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein y≥1; with the proviso that when the cellulose ether moiety is hydroxyethyl cellulose, -(L.sub.2-S—B).sub.y is not derived from 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.

The invention relates to a method for preparing cellulose derivatives which are reversibly crosslinked with glyoxal and thus display delayed water solubility. In the methods, a water-wetted cellulose derivative is mixed at a temperature of between 20 to 70° C. with an aqueous solution containing glyoxal, a monovalent or polyvalent organic acid, and at least one alkaline earth salt and/or alkali salt of phosphoric acid as a buffer substance to reversibly crosslink the cellulose derivative. The amount of glyoxal is 0.010 to 0.050 mol, in each case in relation to 1 mol of anhydroglucose units of the cellulose derivative, and the molar ratio of monovalent or polyvalent organic acid to glyoxal is in the range of 1:1 to 1:12. The cellulose derivative is then dried and milled, and the drying and milling may also be combined. The invention also relates to cellulose derivatives produced according to the method.

Mechanically strong, biodegradable and reusable aerogels are disclosed, which can be made with a cross-linked cellulose ester, and which exhibit a low density and high porosity. The aerogels disclosed herein may be used as sorbent materials and can be modified with a hydrophobic and/or oleophilic agent.

A method for the synthesis of alkyl ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.