Antimicrobial agents and corrosion inhibitors are widely used as biocides in the oil and gas industry to disinfect the water and inhibit excessive biofilm formation and microbial induced corrosion (MIC) caused mainly by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). However, traditional biocides may induce bacterial resistance and/or be detrimental to environment by forming harmful disinfection byproducts. A chitosan-based nanocomposite is successfully implemented as a novel green biocide for treatment of water, the inhibition of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and reduction of biocorrosion on SS400 carbon steel.

Antimicrobial agents and corrosion inhibitors are widely used as biocides in the oil and gas industry to disinfect the water and inhibit excessive biofilm formation and microbial induced corrosion (MIC) caused mainly by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). However, traditional biocides may induce bacterial resistance and/or be detrimental to environment by forming harmful disinfection byproducts. A chitosan-based nanocomposite is successfully implemented as a novel green biocide for treatment of water, the inhibition of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and reduction of biocorrosion on SS400 carbon steel.

The present invention is directed to a process to produce agglomerated lignin with a controlled particle size distribution. The agglomerated lignin is essentially free of dust so that the risk of dust explosion is greatly reduced.

The present invention provides lignin nanoparticles containing a hydrophobic active agent and a process for the production of the lignin nanoparticles. The process involves the following steps: (i) dissolving modified lignin and a hydrophobic active agent in an organic solvent having low solubility in water; (ii) combining the solution with water and a surfactant to form a pre-emulsion; (iii) forming an emulsion from the pre-emulsion; and (iv) crosslinking the modified lignin to form the lignin nanoparticles, in which the modified lignin is lignin which is chemically modified to contain at least two functional groups suitable for polymerization and/or crosslinking.

The invention relates to an aqueous emulsion of a hydrophobic anhydride-based sizing agent, prepared by homogenizing the said anhydride-based sizing agent in an aqueous phase which comprises a stabilizer, which is an anionic lignin-carbohydrate complex, where lignin and carbohydrate are covalently bound with each other. The invention further relates to a use of this anionic lignin-carbohydrate complex as a stabilizer as well as to a method for making an aqueous emulsion of a hydrophobic anhydride-based sizing agent.

A method for producing a polyphenol derivative, including reacting a polyphenol-containing composition and an aromatic compound having an ortho-para directionality in a solvent, a polyphenol derivative produced by the method for producing a polyphenol derivative, and a polyphenol derivative-containing resin composition material containing the polyphenol derivative.

Processes for treating highly viscous hydrocarbons, such as bitumen from oil sands or petroleum residues, with hydrogen-donor solvents are described. The hydrogen-donor solvent is prepared. A mixture of the hydrocarbon and the hydrogen-donor solvent is heated, and the product is cooled to produce a low viscosity and mildly upgraded hydrocarbon. The hydrogen-donor solvent can be modified to improve its solvent usefulness.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a lignin composition, which process comprises: providing a lignin slurry comprising water and a water miscible organic solvent; subjecting the lignin slurry to extraction at an extraction temperature of less than 100° C. for an extraction time of at least 1 minute to provide an extracted slurry; removing liquid from the extracted slurry to provide an extracted lignin; and suspending the extracted lignin in a polar organic solvent to provide a lignin composition having a dry matter content of at least 30% by weight.

The present invention also relates to a lignin composition comprising hardwood Kraft lignin and a polar organic solvent, which composition has a dry matter content of at least 30% by weight. The present invention also relates to use of the lignin composition as a fuel.

The present invention relates to a rubber composition with an excellent grip force; a method of producing the rubber composition; a shoe sole, a shoe, and a tire each using the rubber composition; and a method of improving a frictional force of a rubber component. The present invention is concerned with [1] a rubber composition containing a rubber component (A), a lignin degradation product (B), and a specified amine compound (C); [2] a rubber composition composed of a blend of a rubber component (A), a lignin (B), and a specified amine compound (C); [3] a shoe sole using the aforementioned rubber composition; [4] a shoe having the aforementioned shoe sole; [5] a tire using the aforementioned rubber composition; [6] a method of producing a rubber composition, including blending a rubber component (A), a lignin (B), and a specified amine compound (C) and vulcanizing the blend; and [7] a method of improving a frictional force of a rubber component, including blending a rubber component (A), a lignin (B), and a specified amine compound (C).

The present invention relates to a rubber composition with an excellent grip force; a method of producing the rubber composition; a shoe sole, a shoe, and a tire each using the rubber composition; and a method of improving a frictional force of a rubber component. The present invention is concerned with [1] a rubber composition containing a rubber component (A), a lignin degradation product (B), and a specified amine compound (C); [2] a rubber composition composed of a blend of a rubber component (A), a lignin (B), and a specified amine compound (C); [3] a shoe sole using the aforementioned rubber composition; [4] a shoe having the aforementioned shoe sole; [5] a tire using the aforementioned rubber composition; [6] a method of producing a rubber composition, including blending a rubber component (A), a lignin (B), and a specified amine compound (C) and vulcanizing the blend; and [7] a method of improving a frictional force of a rubber component, including blending a rubber component (A), a lignin (B), and a specified amine compound (C).