Storage stable polyhydroxylated aromatic ether adducts of polyalkylene oxide are described. Reactive compositions are formed by combining an ether adduct with an aldehyde, optionally further adding a phenolic-aldehyde prepolymer. The reactive compositions are cured by removing water, by acidification, or both. The cured compositions sorb solvated compounds from environments containing water. The cured compositions are also useful for pre-loading with compounds that are subsequently released at a controlled rate into environments containing water.

The present invention relates to a liquid lignin composition, particularly useful in the manufacture of resins for products such as insulation, laminates and engineered wood products such as oriented strand boards (OSB). The liquid lignin composition has a low viscosity even at low water content.

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of lignin and the use of said suspension in the preparation of a resin.

A biodegradable crosslinked polymer which is a reaction product of a polymer having aldehyde-reactive functional groups and a polyaldehyde, wherein the polymer having aldehyde-reactive functional groups comprises a biodegradable structure or the polyaldehyde comprises a biodegradable structure.

The present invention relates to a process for lignin dissolution in which partial methylolation of lignin is carried out during the step of preparing a solution of lignin in an aqueous medium comprising alkali and phenol. The lignin prepared according to the process of the present invention can be used to manufacture lignin-based phenolic resins, which are particularly useful in the manufacture of laminates.

The present invention relates to a process for lignin dissolution in which partial methylolation of lignin is carried out during the step of preparing a solution of lignin in an aqueous medium comprising alkali and phenol. The lignin prepared according to the process of the present invention can be used to manufacture lignin-based phenolic resins, which are particularly useful in the manufacture of laminates.

A method for preparing a stable lignin-phenol blend includes a) mixing a lignin source with a dispersion system comprising a solvent to at least partially disperse the lignin and obtain a first mixture comprising a dispersed lignin fraction, a precipitated lignin fraction and the dispersion system, b) separating the precipitated lignin fraction from the dispersion system, and c) mixing phenol with the second mixture to provide a third mixture comprising dispersed lignin, phenol and the dispersion system; wherein the second mixture comprising dispersed lignin and dispersion system is used without any further treatment before mixing with phenol; d) optionally removing at least part of the dispersion system from the third mixture comprising dispersed lignin, phenol and dispersion system, e) obtaining a stable lignin-phenol blend with content of solvent of lower than 20 wt %.

A method for preparing a stable lignin-phenol blend includes a) mixing a lignin source with a dispersion system comprising a solvent to at least partially disperse the lignin and obtain a first mixture comprising a dispersed lignin fraction, a precipitated lignin fraction and the dispersion system, b) separating the precipitated lignin fraction from the dispersion system, and c) mixing phenol with the second mixture to provide a third mixture comprising dispersed lignin, phenol and the dispersion system; wherein the second mixture comprising dispersed lignin and dispersion system is used without any further treatment before mixing with phenol; d) optionally removing at least part of the dispersion system from the third mixture comprising dispersed lignin, phenol and dispersion system, e) obtaining a stable lignin-phenol blend with content of solvent of lower than 20 wt %.