A seed or seedling is coated with a cross-linked biopolymer and, optionally, a second binder selected from underivatized guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar, polyacrylamide, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), polyacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneoxide, polyamide, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, underivatized starch, cationic starch, corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum, waxy sarghum, sago, dextrin, chitin, chitosan, xanthan gum, carageenan gum, gum karaya, gum arabic, pectin, cellulose, hydroxycellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, or hydroxypropyl cellulose. The seed coating composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 30% as compared to an analogous composition that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer.

A seed or seedling is coated with a cross-linked biopolymer and, optionally, a second binder selected from underivatized guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar, polyacrylamide, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), polyacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneoxide, polyamide, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, underivatized starch, cationic starch, corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum, waxy sarghum, sago, dextrin, chitin, chitosan, xanthan gum, carageenan gum, gum karaya, gum arabic, pectin, cellulose, hydroxycellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, or hydroxypropyl cellulose. The seed coating composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 30% as compared to an analogous composition that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer.

Method for preparing a natural organic macromolecular water treatment agent including: dissolving amylose corn starch in an alkali solution, stirring for 30 min, to obtain a suspension, freezing the suspension to fully frozen state, melting and dialyzing, to obtain a corn starch dispersion; mixing a modified flax fiber, the dispersion, nano-hybrid silica and distilled water, performing 800 W ultrasonication for 10 min, to obtain a treated suspension; taking an amount of a superabsorbent macromolecular resin with a certain shape, making it absorb water and swell into a solid hydrogel with the certain shape; mixing the solid hydrogel and the treated suspension, static defoaming, loading into a mold and solidifying, drying until the solid hydrogel is completely dehydrated, to obtain a hollow agent; spraying a catalytic degrading agent/toxin degrading agent on the surface of the hollow agent and/or the inner wall of holes thereof, to obtain the target agent.

Method for preparing a natural organic macromolecular water treatment agent including: dissolving amylose corn starch in an alkali solution, stirring for 30 min, to obtain a suspension, freezing the suspension to fully frozen state, melting and dialyzing, to obtain a corn starch dispersion; mixing a modified flax fiber, the dispersion, nano-hybrid silica and distilled water, performing 800 W ultrasonication for 10 min, to obtain a treated suspension; taking an amount of a superabsorbent macromolecular resin with a certain shape, making it absorb water and swell into a solid hydrogel with the certain shape; mixing the solid hydrogel and the treated suspension, static defoaming, loading into a mold and solidifying, drying until the solid hydrogel is completely dehydrated, to obtain a hollow agent; spraying a catalytic degrading agent/toxin degrading agent on the surface of the hollow agent and/or the inner wall of holes thereof, to obtain the target agent.

There is provided a novel a non-toxic self-adhesive shear thickening dilatant fluid and process for the formation thereof comprising the sequential steps of forming a gel comprising a first portion of starch and water and adding a sufficient second portion of dry non-toxic solid material to said gel to form a kneadable solid which is dry to the touch. In particular it is directed to a material whose base is corn starch.

There is provided a novel a non-toxic self-adhesive shear thickening dilatant fluid and process for the formation thereof comprising the sequential steps of forming a gel comprising a first portion of starch and water and adding a sufficient second portion of dry non-toxic solid material to said gel to form a kneadable solid which is dry to the touch. In particular it is directed to a material whose base is corn starch.

There is provided a novel a non-toxic self-adhesive shear thickening dilatant fluid and process for the formation thereof comprising the sequential steps of forming a gel comprising a first portion of starch and water and adding a sufficient second portion of dry non-toxic solid material to said gel to form a kneadable solid which is dry to the touch. In particular it is directed to a material whose base is corn starch.

In one aspect, the invention provides a substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material including starch and hydrophobically modified layered silicate clay. In another aspect, the invention provides packaging made from material including the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above. The nanocomposite material has improved mechanical and rheological properties and reduced sensitivity to moisture in that the rates of moisture update and/or loss are reduced. In another aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material described above, including a step of mixing the starch in the form of an aqueous gel with the hydrophobic clay in a melt mixing device. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for preparing the substantially exfoliated nanocomposite material, including the steps of mixing the starch with the hydrophobic clay to form a masterbatch (hereinafter “the masterbatch process”) and mixing the masterbatch with further starch.

The present invention concerns a method of producing a moulded mineral wool insulation product, said method comprising the steps of providing a mixture by mixing mineral fibres with a binder composition, and providing said mixture in a mould form, and then curing the binder, wherein the binder composition comprises at least one hydrocolloid, and then removing the moulded product from the mould form.

The present invention concerns a method of producing a moulded mineral wool insulation product, said method comprising the steps of providing a mixture by mixing mineral fibres with a binder composition, and providing said mixture in a mould form, and then curing the binder, wherein the binder composition comprises at least one hydrocolloid, and then removing the moulded product from the mould form.