A process for preparing a cellulosic sponge includes the steps of treating an aqueous suspension of cellulose fibers with periodate; adjusting the pH of the resulting dialdehyde cellulose fibers suspension to a value between 2.5 to 5.5; freezing the suspension obtained and thawing the three dimensional structure to render the cellulosic sponge. The process may further include a step of drying to render a cellulosic foam. Both the new sponge and the new foam may also be further chemically modified obtaining a broad variety of derivatives with tailored properties which are useful in many different applications.

A process for preparing a cellulosic sponge includes the steps of treating an aqueous suspension of cellulose fibers with periodate; adjusting the pH of the resulting dialdehyde cellulose fibers suspension to a value between 2.5 to 5.5; freezing the suspension obtained and thawing the three dimensional structure to render the cellulosic sponge. The process may further include a step of drying to render a cellulosic foam. Both the new sponge and the new foam may also be further chemically modified obtaining a broad variety of derivatives with tailored properties which are useful in many different applications.

Compositions comprising metal ions or clusters such as ferrous and/or ferric iron compounds or magnesium, zinc, lanthanum and other metal ion compounds and fiber components such as gum Arabic in a complex, methods for preparing such compositions of matter, and the use thereof for treatment of adsorbing certain accessible targets in the gastrointestinal tract and in an extracorporeal system, are provided herein.

Compositions comprising metal ions or clusters such as ferrous and/or ferric iron compounds or magnesium, zinc, lanthanum and other metal ion compounds and fiber components such as gum Arabic in a complex, methods for preparing such compositions of matter, and the use thereof for treatment of adsorbing certain accessible targets in the gastrointestinal tract and in an extracorporeal system, are provided herein.

This invention discloses methods for producing modified cellulose, modified nanocellulose, modified nanocellulose functionalized with other functional species, and derivatives thereof. The present invention also provides cellulose, nanocellulose, and their derivatives that are safe to use inside an animal or human body and are biocompatible without costly purification. These cellulose or nanocellulose materials can be used in many different applications, including carrier for pharmaceutical active agents and other medical devices.

This invention discloses methods for producing modified cellulose, modified nanocellulose, modified nanocellulose functionalized with other functional species, and derivatives thereof. The present invention also provides cellulose, nanocellulose, and their derivatives that are safe to use inside an animal or human body and are biocompatible without costly purification. These cellulose or nanocellulose materials can be used in many different applications, including carrier for pharmaceutical active agents and other medical devices.

The present invention relates to adurable and multifunctional superhydrophobic coating composition and water based fabrication method of producing the durable and multifunctional superhydrophobic coating composition via chemical modification and functionalization of hydrophilic material by silanes under room temperature without any organic solvents. Synthesis of chemically modified cellulose nanofibers or clay in water forms excellent water repelling thin films upon coating over various substrates. The super hydrophobic materials are used as additive for paints, pigments, paper, varnish and, textile and used for various industrial applications such as construction of buildings and other super structures.

The present invention relates to adurable and multifunctional superhydrophobic coating composition and water based fabrication method of producing the durable and multifunctional superhydrophobic coating composition via chemical modification and functionalization of hydrophilic material by silanes under room temperature without any organic solvents. Synthesis of chemically modified cellulose nanofibers or clay in water forms excellent water repelling thin films upon coating over various substrates. The super hydrophobic materials are used as additive for paints, pigments, paper, varnish and, textile and used for various industrial applications such as construction of buildings and other super structures.

Forming multifunctional materials and composites thereof includes contacting a first material having a plurality of oxygen-containing functional groups with a chalcogenide compound, and initiating a chemical reaction between the first material and the chalcogenide compound, thereby replacing oxygen in some of the oxygen-containing functional groups with chalcogen from the chalcogen-containing compound to yield a second material having chalcogen-containing functional groups and oxygen-containing functional groups. The first material is a carbonaceous material or a macromolecular material. A product including the second material is collected and may be processed further to yield a modified product or a composite.

Forming multifunctional materials and composites thereof includes contacting a first material having a plurality of oxygen-containing functional groups with a chalcogenide compound, and initiating a chemical reaction between the first material and the chalcogenide compound, thereby replacing oxygen in some of the oxygen-containing functional groups with chalcogen from the chalcogen-containing compound to yield a second material having chalcogen-containing functional groups and oxygen-containing functional groups. The first material is a carbonaceous material or a macromolecular material. A product including the second material is collected and may be processed further to yield a modified product or a composite.