The present invention provides pentosan polysulfate having a weight average molecular weight of 5000 or less and a content of acetyl groups of 0% to 2.0% by mass, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate thereof. The pentosan polysulfate of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate thereof exhibits an anti-Xa activity and an anti-Xa/anti-IIa activity ratio, which are suitable for practical use, and is useful as a pharmaceutical composition such as an anticoagulant.

Selective flocculants for beneficiation of bauxite ore comprise one or more types of polysaccharides comprising one or more types of pentosan units. Also disclosed are processes for enriching aluminum hydroxide and alumina from bauxite ore comprising the aluminum hydroxide and alumina and clay materials and and/or siliceous gangue, wherein the process comprises carrying out a selective flocculation process in the presence of one or more of the selective flocculants.

A method of producing regenerated cellulose and hemicellulose from a fiber pulp which is prepared by using chemical cooking. Hemicellulose and, correspondingly, cellulose is separated from the pulp, in order to form separate fractions, by dissolving them in such a solvent or an aqueous solution of it, from which they are precipitated by adding water, after which the regenerated hemicellulose and cellulose can be recovered. Hemicellulose-containing pulp, which for example is used as raw material of paper, can be efficiently fractionated into polymeric hemicellulose-rich fractions and very pure cellulose fractions, such as regenerated cellulose fiber, various cellulose particles or cellulose films.

A method of producing regenerated cellulose and hemicellulose from a fiber pulp which is prepared by using chemical cooking. Hemicellulose and, correspondingly, cellulose is separated from the pulp, in order to form separate fractions, by dissolving them in such a solvent or an aqueous solution of it, from which they are precipitated by adding water, after which the regenerated hemicellulose and cellulose can be recovered. Hemicellulose-containing pulp, which for example is used as raw material of paper, can be efficiently fractionated into polymeric hemicellulose-rich fractions and very pure cellulose fractions, such as regenerated cellulose fiber, various cellulose particles or cellulose films.

An object of present invention is to provide a method for easily extracting and efficiently recovering xylan from wood. A xylan-containing material is produced by a method comprising steps of: (a) adding an acid and/or carbon dioxide to a black liquor discharged during a soda cooking step of wood chips including hardwood chips to adjust the pH of the black liquor to be in the range of 1 to 9, thereby giving a suspension; (b) dehydrating and washing an insoluble matter generated in the suspension to separately collect the insoluble matter; and (c) adding an organic solvent to the insoluble matter obtained at the step (b) to give a suspension, and separately collecting a xylan-containing material made of the insoluble matter present in the suspension by solid/liquid separation.

An object of present invention is to provide a method for easily extracting and efficiently recovering xylan from wood. A xylan-containing material is produced by a method comprising steps of: (a) adding an acid and/or carbon dioxide to a black liquor discharged during a soda cooking step of wood chips including hardwood chips to adjust the pH of the black liquor to be in the range of 1 to 9, thereby giving a suspension; (b) dehydrating and washing an insoluble matter generated in the suspension to separately collect the insoluble matter; and (c) adding an organic solvent to the insoluble matter obtained at the step (b) to give a suspension, and separately collecting a xylan-containing material made of the insoluble matter present in the suspension by solid/liquid separation.

The present invention relates to a method of treating biomass, comprising providing a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; contacting the biomass feedstock in a mixture, which is formed by the biomass, water and an alkaline agent, with an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature; and continuing the contacting of the biomass feedstock with the oxidizing agent until a notable part of the lignin is solubilized. The step of providing the biomass feedstock comprises contacting a biomass raw-material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in an aqueous phase with an alkaline agent; continuing the contacting of the biomass with the alkaline agent until a significant portion of the hemicellulose is dissolved in the aqueous phase to provide a modified biomass; recovering the modified biomass; optionally opening the structure of the modified biomass by mechanical treatment; and using the modified biomass as a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock. Treating the biomass provides hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose fractions that have a multitude of applications in the bioeconomy.

The present invention relates to a method of treating biomass, comprising providing a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock; contacting the biomass feedstock in a mixture, which is formed by the biomass, water and an alkaline agent, with an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature; and continuing the contacting of the biomass feedstock with the oxidizing agent until a notable part of the lignin is solubilized. The step of providing the biomass feedstock comprises contacting a biomass raw-material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in an aqueous phase with an alkaline agent; continuing the contacting of the biomass with the alkaline agent until a significant portion of the hemicellulose is dissolved in the aqueous phase to provide a modified biomass; recovering the modified biomass; optionally opening the structure of the modified biomass by mechanical treatment; and using the modified biomass as a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock. Treating the biomass provides hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose fractions that have a multitude of applications in the bioeconomy.

The invention provides oligosaccharide compositions, wherein arabinoxylan is present in said composition in amounts of 40-70% (w/w) of dry solid con-tent (DS) and the oligosaccharides have a dispersity (D) of 10-17. The oligosaccharide compositions are useful as bulking agents and for increasing the mouthfeel of a food product.

The invention provides oligosaccharide compositions, wherein arabinoxylan is present in said composition in amounts of 40-70% (w/w) of dry solid con-tent (DS) and the oligosaccharides have a dispersity (D) of 10-17. The oligosaccharide compositions are useful as bulking agents and for increasing the mouthfeel of a food product.