A system, optionally a continuous-process system, for the production of a biomass-polymer composite. The system accepts a biomass input, particulates the biomass using one or more mills, subjects the particulated biomass to a heat treatment, such as torrefaction, and then compounds the torrefied biomass with a polymer to create the composite. Such a system, and in particular, a continuous-type system, allows for efficient processing of all of the inputs, and furthermore eliminates the dangers, time, and costs associated with having to safely cool down torrefied biomass prior to compounding at a later time or location.

Novel meltable lignin compositions having tailored compatibilities, moisture/water-resistant adhesion characteristics, and low to medium glass transition temperatures (30 to 120 C.) desirable for applications in the manufacturing of various products and the integration in the formulations of adhesives, coatings, plastics, composites and masterbatches, are obtained by blending at low temperatures (0-120 C.) dry lignins (0 to 10% moisture), in their hydrogen or protonated formshereby referred to as H-forms (pH=2.3-6.5 for a 10% aqueous suspension), with a reactive and/or interactive molecule or combination of molecules.

A lignocellulose nanofibril material, a stable foam system based thereon, a preparation method and an application thereof are provided. The lignocellulosic nanofibril material includes the following components: 0.5-20 wt % of wood flour, 0.1-10 wt % of (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxidanyl, 2-25 mmol/g of an oxidant, 6-15 wt % of NaBr, and the remaining is water. The stable foam system based on the lignocellulosic nanofibril material includes: 0.1-1.0 wt % of the lignocellulosic nanofibril material, 0.2-1.0 wt % of a surfactant, 0.1-10 wt % of sodium chloride, 0.1-1.0 wt % of calcium chloride, 0.1-1.0 wt % of magnesium chloride, 0.1-1.0 wt % of sodium sulfate, and a balance of water.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a modified wood product wherein the wood is treated with low-molecular weight resin based on lignin degradation products. The present invention also relates to a modified wood product produced using said process.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved, batchwise or continuous, preferably continuous, process for producing single-layer or multilayer lignocellulose materials, comprising the process steps of (Ia) producing a mixture M1 and (Ib) optionally one or more mixture(s) M2, (II) scattering mixture M1 and any mixture(s) M2 to give a mat, (III) optionally precompacting the scattered mat and (IV) hot pressing, in that mixture M1 comprises the lignocellulose particles (component LCP-1) and additionally a) 0.005% to 0.5% by weight of organic carboxylic acid, carboxylic anhydride, carbonyl chloride or mixtures thereof (component A) b) 0.05% to 3% by weight of organic isocyanates having at least two isocyanate groups (component B) and c) 5% to 15% by weight of binder selected from the group of the amino resins (component C) d) 0% to 2% by weight of hardener (component D) and e) 0% to 5% by weight of additive (component E), and mixture(s) M2 comprise(s) the lignocellulose particles (component LCP-2) and additionally f) 0% to 0.3% by weight of organic carboxylic acid, carboxylic anhydride, carbonyl chloride or mixtures thereof (component F), g) 1% to 30% by weight of binder selected from the group consisting of amino resin, phenolic resin, protein-based binder and other polymer-based binders or mixtures thereof (component G-1) and 0% to 3% by weight of organic isocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups (component G-2), h) 0% to 2% by weight of hardener (component H) and i) 0% to 5% by weight of additives (component I), with the proviso that the following conditions are fulfilled:
a.sub.min<a<a.sub.max
and
a.sub.min=[(1/6000.Math.T)+(65/6000)1, preferably a.sub.min=[(1/4500.Math.T)+(65/4500)], more preferably a.sub.min=[(1/3500.Math.T)+(65/3500)]
and
a.sub.max=[(1/2000.Math.T)+(75/2000)], preferably a.sub.max=[(1/2500.Math.T)+(75/2500)], more preferably a.sub.max=[(1/3000.Math.T]+(75/3000)], where T is the temperature of mixture M1 in C. after process step (Ia) and is between 10 and 65 C., preferably 12 and 62 C., more preferably 15 to 60 C., and a is the amount of acid equivalents in component A) in relation to the mass of component C) in mol/100 g.

A foaming process for converting fibrous material into a cellular foam structure includes mixing fibrous material and a solvent-based binding agent to form a mixture; saturating the mixture with a pressurized gas to form a gas-saturated mixture; expanding the gas-saturated mixture by reducing the pressure of the pressurized gas to form an expanded mixture with voids in the fibrous material; and curing the expanded mixture to set the fibrous material and drive off the solvent to provide a stable network of fibrous material having cushioning properties.

Disclosed is a composition comprising (a) a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material; and (b) a cellulose derivative. A process for preparing the composition is also disclosed. The process can comprise providing a cellulose derivative in a solvent; and mixing a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material into the solvent. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can comprise 90% of particles ranging from 0.01 to 5 mm in size. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can be derived from a biomass residue.

This invention provides a finely ground biomass material used to create biomass-containing plastics having a smooth surface, while also preventing creation of unwanted color including those created by the Maillard reaction which results from a combination of sugars, protein, heat and acid or base chemicals. The present invention also provides for methods to prevent agglomeration of small particles into larger particles which can produce irregular surfaces on biomass-based plastics, including thin film plastics, especially thin film plastics less than 4 mil and other thin film plastics that can become too large to use in thin-film plastic production. For the purpose of this invention, plastic resins can be any gas or liquid hydrocarbon or fermentation-based resins.

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.

The present invention relates to a reactive adhesive comprising the reaction product of a polyester, constructed from the monomers A, B and C, where A=phthalic acid or phthalic anhydride, B=at least one organic acid having at least two acid groups or the corresponding anhydride or the corresponding ester, with the proviso that B is not A, and C=at least one diol, and that the molar ratio of the monomers A to monomers B is from 1:10 to 10:1, as polyol and optionally one or more further polyols, with a diisocyanate, which is characterized in that the average OH number of the polyols used is from 10 to 30 mg KOH/g polyols, the ratio of OH of the polyols used to NCO groups of the diisocyanate used is from 1:1.2 to 1:4.0, and the reaction product has a viscosity of 1 to 200 Pa*s at 130 C. and also a method for production thereof and also use of the reactive adhesive.