Disclosed are compounds, in particular based on polysaccharides, that are adsorbed on a cellulosic material, and relates in particular to the application of such compounds as reinforcing agent for cellulosic materials, in the wet and/or dry state. The compounds include a combination of at least one polysaccharide adsorbed on a cellulosic material, the polysaccharide including at least two different monosaccharide units, forming first and second monosaccharide units, the second monosaccharide units being branched on a chain including at least the first monosaccharide units, at least some of the second monosaccharide units being non-cyclic and bearing aldehyde functions, the aldehyde functions possibly forming hemiacetal functions with hydroxy functions of the cellulosic material.

Disclosed are compounds, in particular based on polysaccharides, that are adsorbed on a cellulosic material, and relates in particular to the application of such compounds as reinforcing agent for cellulosic materials, in the wet and/or dry state. The compounds include a combination of at least one polysaccharide adsorbed on a cellulosic material, the polysaccharide including at least two different monosaccharide units, forming first and second monosaccharide units, the second monosaccharide units being branched on a chain including at least the first monosaccharide units, at least some of the second monosaccharide units being non-cyclic and bearing aldehyde functions, the aldehyde functions possibly forming hemiacetal functions with hydroxy functions of the cellulosic material.

Compositions and methods of protecting plants from cold damage are provided. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising plant-based nano- and/or micron-sized particles which, when applied to plants or plant parts such as buds, form a non-hydrophilic deposit or film with low thermal conductivity, thereby conferring protection against damage from ice nucleation and cold stress.

Compositions and methods of protecting plants from cold damage are provided. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising plant-based nano- and/or micron-sized particles which, when applied to plants or plant parts such as buds, form a non-hydrophilic deposit or film with low thermal conductivity, thereby conferring protection against damage from ice nucleation and cold stress.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity, hydrophobic cellulose. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and depositing lignin onto cellulose fibers to produce lignin-coated cellulose materials (such as dissolving pulp). The crystallinity of the cellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the hydrophobic cellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity, hydrophobic cellulose. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and depositing lignin onto cellulose fibers to produce lignin-coated cellulose materials (such as dissolving pulp). The crystallinity of the cellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the hydrophobic cellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Compositions comprising polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are provided. Methods for the formation of the compositions, including the enzymatic production of the oligosaccharides, and the uses of the compositions in foodstuffs, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals are also provided.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of composite materials, and disclosed are a xylan-based double network nanocomposite hydrogel and the preparation and application thereof. The method includes: (1) adding a graphite oxide powder into deionized water, and ultrasonically dispersing to obtain a GO water dispersion; (2) adding xylan into deionized water, heating and stiffing to obtain a xylan solution; (3) adding a water-soluble calcium salt, a reaction monomer and the xylan solution into the GO water dispersion, stiffing and dispersing uniformly under an ice-bath condition, adding an initiator, a cross-linking agent and an accelerator, and stiffing to mix well so as to obtain a mixed solution; (4) subjecting the mixed solution of step (3) to a drying reaction, to obtain the xylan based double network nanocomposite hydrogel. The composite hydrogel obtained in the present invention has high mechanical properties, is biodegradable and has good biocompatibility. The present invention is applicable in the field of biomedicine, such as tissue engineering, drug sustained-release, cell culture scaffold and cartilage tissue, etc.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of composite materials, and disclosed are a xylan-based double network nanocomposite hydrogel and the preparation and application thereof. The method includes: (1) adding a graphite oxide powder into deionized water, and ultrasonically dispersing to obtain a GO water dispersion; (2) adding xylan into deionized water, heating and stiffing to obtain a xylan solution; (3) adding a water-soluble calcium salt, a reaction monomer and the xylan solution into the GO water dispersion, stiffing and dispersing uniformly under an ice-bath condition, adding an initiator, a cross-linking agent and an accelerator, and stiffing to mix well so as to obtain a mixed solution; (4) subjecting the mixed solution of step (3) to a drying reaction, to obtain the xylan based double network nanocomposite hydrogel. The composite hydrogel obtained in the present invention has high mechanical properties, is biodegradable and has good biocompatibility. The present invention is applicable in the field of biomedicine, such as tissue engineering, drug sustained-release, cell culture scaffold and cartilage tissue, etc.

The present invention relates to a microfibrillated cellulose composition comprising a microfibrillated cellulose originating from agricultural biomass, said microfibrillated cellulose composition comprising: 30 wt % cellulose, 1-15 wt % pectin, 8-25 wt % hemicellulose, 0-12 wt %, lignin, 0-15 wt % ash, and 0-8 wt % protein, based on dry solids content of said composition. The present invention further relates to its manufacture, and use in and manufacture of paper and paperboard products.