A process for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is provided. The process comprises: providing a waste stream comprising lignocellulosic materials; adding an calcium-containing mineral to the waste stream; heat-treating the waste stream in the presence of the calcium-containing mineral, to obtain a treated waste stream; fermenting at least one strain of PHA-producing microorganism in a culture medium comprising the treated waste stream as a carbon source, to produce the PHA; and extracting the PHA from the PHA-producing microorganism.

One aspect of the present application relates to a method of synthesizing a thermoplastic polymer. This method includes providing a depolymerized lignin product comprising monomers and oligomers and producing lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers from the depolymerized lignin product. A thermoplastic lignin (meth)acrylate polymer is then formed by free radical polymerization of the lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers. The present application also relates to a branched chain thermoplastic lignin (meth)acrylate polymer which includes a chain transfer agent. The thermoplastic lignin based polymers of the present application can be used to prepare carbon fibers, and engineering thermoplastics. Mixtures of lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers are also disclosed.

In some examples, one or more metal-containing catalysts and one or more waxes can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce an encapsulated catalyst composition. The wax can be at least partially coated on the metal-containing catalyst. A mixture of water and the wax can be agitated or otherwise mixed, and the metal-containing catalyst can be added to or otherwise combined with the water and wax mixture to produce a wax emulsified catalyst. A plurality of lignocellulose substrates, one or more oxidants, and the encapsulated catalyst composition can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce a lignocellulose binder mixture. The lignocellulose binder mixture can be heated to produce a composite product.

A process is provided for treating wood products including lumber, plywood and other engineered wood products comprising the steps of contacting a composition comprising a polypropylene glycol, a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, a polyether polyol having low solubility in water, or a polytetrahydrofuran, or hydrophobic polyether polyol, with the wood product. The invention also provides wood products comprising a polypropylene glycol, a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, a polyether polyol having low solubility in water, or a polytetrahydrofuran, or hydrophobic polyether polyol, that have greater dimensional stability compared to an untreated wood product.

In some examples, one or more metal-containing catalysts and one or more waxes can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce an encapsulated catalyst composition. The wax can be at least partially coated on the metal-containing catalyst. A mixture of water and the wax can be agitated or otherwise mixed, and the metal-containing catalyst can be added to or otherwise combined with the water and wax mixture to produce a wax emulsified catalyst. A plurality of lignocellulose substrates, one or more oxidants, and the encapsulated catalyst composition can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce a lignocellulose binder mixture. The lignocellulose binder mixture can be heated to produce a composite product.

The disclosed composite wood particulate products, adhesives contained in such wood particulate products, and methods of making the adhesive and the wood particulate products employ an aldehyde-free adhesive, and more specifically a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The aldehyde-free adhesive includes an inert additive that extends a resin, such as an isocyanate resin, and forms an evenly dispersed, less expensive polymeric adhesive admixture. The extender-filler of the resin is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry can then be mixed with a resin, like the isocyanate resin, to form the adhesive. Various rheology modifiers can be added, if desired, to the extender-filler or the slurry. The adhesive can be blended with wood particles to form a mat that is then pressed into a composite wood particulate product.

The present disclosure relates to aerogels (e.g., superelastic, ultralight and/or thermal super-insulating aerogels), methods for preparation of such aerogels and uses of such aerogels. For example, the methods for preparation can comprise: freezing a suspension comprising high aspect ratio microfibers; and freeze-drying the frozen suspension to obtain the aerogel.

Described is a process of producing a lignocellulosic composite or a product thereof, wherein the process comprises at least the steps of making a formed sheet by preparing a mixture comprising lignocellulosic particle and a heat-curable binder composition comprising as components for hardening the binder via reaction with each other at least one, two or more carbohydrate compounds and one or two compounds having two or more amino groups, comprising hexamethylenediamine and/or polylysine, and forming a sheet from said mixture, so that the formed sheet results, and of at least temporarily simultaneously compacting and dielectrically heating the formed sheet in a dielectric heating and pressing unit, so that the heat-curable binder composition hardens and the lignocellulosic composite results. Furthermore described is a lignocellulosic composite, which is preparable according to that process, a construction product comprising such lignocellulosic composite and the use of such lignocellulosic composite as a building element in a construction product.

Novel structural materials composed of industrial hemp fiber with recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) as well as methods for the production of the same are disclosed. The material's mechanical strength outperforms that of conventional lumber and could compete with glass fiber reinforced composites, particularly in tensile strength. In addition, this material offers many other significant advantages including insect free, high moisture resistance, no harmful chemical treatments, and no rapid corrosion in water environments.

The disclosed composite wood particulate products, adhesives contained in such wood particulate products, and methods of making the adhesive and the wood particulate products employ an aldehyde-free adhesive, and more specifically a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The aldehyde-free adhesive includes an inert additive that extends a resin, such as an isocyanate resin, and forms an evenly dispersed, less expensive polymeric adhesive admixture. The extender-filler of the resin is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry can then be mixed with a resin, like the isocyanate resin, to form the adhesive. Various rheology modifiers can be added, if desired, to the extender-filler or the slurry. The adhesive can be blended with wood particles to form a mat that is then pressed into a composite wood particulate product.