The subject matter of the present invention is a method for producing a biodegradable, non-porous composite material made water-absorbent and/or lipid-absorbent, used for obtaining diversely shaped solid objects to be subsequently loaded with active liquid hydrophilic and/or lipophilic compositions comprising at least one active ingredient intended to be delivered into an environment in a controlled and continuous manner.

A cellulosic material is treated by providing a cellulosic material such as wood or a wood composite, which is impregnated with an aqueous dispersion comprising a polymer, the polymer comprising an olefin-carboxylic acid copolymer. The cellulosic material is then impregnated with a modifying agent, the modifying agent comprising a polyamine having greater than or equal to 2 amine groups. The modifying agent at least partially crosslinks the polymer within the cellulosic material.

An infilled artificial turf surface [18] includes a particulate infill [24] with at least a top layer [28] that comprises a mixture of Black walnut shell particles [30] and English walnut shell particles [32], the walnut shell particles [30, 32] having been treated so as to eliminate or substantially remove tree nut allergens that are known to activate allergies in some humans. Preferably, treatment occurs via heat treatment in a rotary furnace, which also rounds and smoothes the particles [30, 32]. Particularly if used in the top layer [28] of a particulate infill [24] of an artificial turf surface [18], the shape and size and proportion of the Black walnut shell particles [30] and the English walnut shell particles [32] provide stability for the resulting turf surface [18], while also being able to absorb water applied thereto, thereby to hold moisture and to provide evaporative cooling of the artificial turf surface [18] for up to about five hours.

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.

An infilled artificial turf surface [18] includes a particulate infill [24] with at least a top layer [28] that comprises a mixture of Black walnut shell particles [30] and English walnut shell particles [32], the walnut shell particles [30, 32] having been treated so as to eliminate or substantially remove tree nut allergens that are known to activate allergies in some humans. Preferably, treatment occurs via heat treatment in a rotary furnace, which also rounds and smoothes the particles [30, 32]. Particularly if used in the top layer [28] of a particulate infill [24] of an artificial turf surface [18], the shape and size and proportion of the Black walnut shell particles [30] and the English walnut shell particles [32] provide stability for the resulting turf surface [18], while also being able to absorb water applied thereto, thereby to hold moisture and to provide evaporative cooling of the artificial turf surface [18] for up to about five hours.

Systems and methods for cooling and processing materials are disclosed.

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.

Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.

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.

Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.