The present invention relates to a masterbatch composition comprising high concentration of biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity and uses thereof for manufacturing biodegradable plastic articles.

The present invention relates to plastic composition comprising at least one polyester, biological entities having a polyester-degrading activity and at least an anti-acid filler, wherein the biological entities represent less than 11% by weight, based on the total weight of the plastic composition, and uses thereof for manufacturing biodegradable plastic articles.

A binder comprising a polymeric binder comprising the products of a carbohydrate reactant and organic acid is disclosed. The binder is useful for consolidating loosely assembled matter, such as fibers. Fibrous products comprising fibers in contact with a carbohydrate reactant and an organic acid are also disclosed. The binder composition may be cured to yield a fibrous product comprising fibers bound by a cross-linked polymer. Further disclosed are methods for binding fibers with the carbohydrate based binder using an organic acid.

A binder comprising a polymeric binder comprising the products of a carbohydrate reactant and organic acid is disclosed. The binder is useful for consolidating loosely assembled matter, such as fibers. Fibrous products comprising fibers in contact with a carbohydrate reactant and an organic acid are also disclosed. The binder composition may be cured to yield a fibrous product comprising fibers bound by a cross-linked polymer. Further disclosed are methods for binding fibers with the carbohydrate based binder using an organic acid.

Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.

The present document describes a powder composition comprising a functionalized starch having a single helix V-structure and having a degree of substitution of at least 0.25, and a bioactive agent, forming an inclusion complex with said functionalized starch, where the bioactive agent is within the helix V-structure of the functionalized starch having a single helix V-structure. Also described are the functionalized starch having a single helix V-structure and having a degree of substitution of at least 0.25, methods of making the same and methods of using the same to manufacture the powder composition.

The present invention relates to a process for preparation of superabsorbent polymer with high fluid absorptivity. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising said superabsorbent polymer particles and their use for absorbing aqueous fluids, for example in the agricultural industry.

A curable aqueous binder composition comprising sheared or extruded cross linked starch particles and a crosslinking agent for use in the formation of composite materials such as mineral, natural organic or synthetic fiber products including mineral fiber insulation, non-woven mats, fiberglass insulation and related glass fiber products as well as wood based products and construction materials. In one application the curable aqueous starch binder composition may be blended with a second non-formaldehyde resin to make fiberglass insulation. In another application the curable aqueous starch binder composition may be mixed into a formaldehyde based resin to make fiberglass roof shingles.

A nanocomposite film and a method of producing nanocomposite films. The method includes the steps of preparing an aqueous Crocus sativus extract; dropwise adding silver nitrate solution to a dispersion of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to obtain a mixture; and dropwise adding the aqueous Crocus sativus extract to the mixture with continuous stirring to obtain nanocomposite powder.

Compostable seaweed-based compositions, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the seaweed-based composition comprises (i) a phycocolloid including agar, alginate, carrageenan, and/or unprocessed seaweed, (ii) a polymer comprising thermoplastic starch (TPS), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyesteramide (PEA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and/or polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), and (iii) an additive, wherein the phycocolloid comprises no more than 90 wt % of the seaweed-based composition, the biopolymer comprises no more than 80 wt % of the seaweed-based composition, and the additive comprises no more than 50 wt % of the seaweed-based composition.