This invention relates generally to cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions that can serve as a spray adjuvant for improved agrochemical application efficiency. More particularly, the cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions are nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions having a semi-liquid formulation of colloidal cellulose nanocrystals and biopolymers that can substitute currently used surfactants and drift reducing agents in agrochemicals. The cellulose nanocrystal-based emulsions are suitable with both water soluble and oil soluble active ingredient chemistries, and the shear characteristics of the emulsions make them suitable for oil in water-based spray applications. Droplet size distribution can be tuned by changing the ingredient concentrations, thus helping control particle drift. Moreover, a stable cross-linked network formation facilitates the entrapment and encapsulation of volatile agrochemical chemistries, thus preventing their volatilization and reducing vapor drift.

An object is to provide a cellulose acetate remarkably good in hue even when a low-quality pulp is used.

A method for producing the cellulose acetate includes a step (1) of crushing a wood pulp, a step (2) of bringing the crushed wood pulp into contact with acetic acid to subject the pulp to pretreat the wood pulp, a step (3) of causing the wood pulp to react with acetic anhydride after the pretreatment to acetylate the pulp, a step (4) of hydrolyzing the cellulose acetate, which is yielded by the acetylation, and a step (5) of precipitating the cellulose acetate, an acetylation degree of which is adjusted by the hydrolysis. In the hydrolyzing step (4), in a hydrolysis reaction system, a concentration of oxygen is set to 3% or less.

A material comprising a highly branched carbohydrate polymer, a polyalkylene glycol (or polyalkylene oxide) linked to the highly branched carbohydrate polymer, and a hydrophobic or amphiphilic group linked to the highly branched carbohydrate polymer and/or the polyalkylene glycol (or polyalkylene oxide), is described. Methods of making and using the material, as well as a soluble composition that contains the material and a hydrophobic solute compound, are also described.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide cellulose acetate excellent in transparency.

The method for producing cellulose acetate flakes includes the steps of (a) generating a cellulose acetate dope by reacting cellulose with acetic anhydride in a presence of an acid catalyst and an acetic acid solvent; (b) hydrolyzing the generated cellulose acetate to adjust an acetylation degree to 52% or more and 59% or less; (c) precipitating the adjusted cellulose acetate in a presence of water; (d) forming the cellulose acetate obtained by precipitation into a slurry by dispersing the cellulose acetate in a mixed solvent including a solvent having a solubility parameter of 8 to 13 and a solvent having a solubility parameter of 14 or more; and (e) separating the cellulose acetate from the slurry to form the cellulose acetate into flakes, the mixed solvent containing 30% by weight or more and 70% by weight or less of the solvent having a solubility parameter of 8 to 13.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide cellulose acetate excellent in transparency.

The method for producing cellulose acetate flakes includes the steps of (a) generating a cellulose acetate dope by reacting cellulose with acetic anhydride in a presence of an acid catalyst and an acetic acid solvent; (b) hydrolyzing the generated cellulose acetate to adjust an acetylation degree to 52% or more and 59% or less; (c) precipitating the adjusted cellulose acetate in a presence of water; (d) forming the cellulose acetate obtained by precipitation into a slurry by dispersing the cellulose acetate in a mixed solvent including a solvent having a solubility parameter of 8 to 13 and a solvent having a solubility parameter of 14 or more; and (e) separating the cellulose acetate from the slurry to form the cellulose acetate into flakes, the mixed solvent containing 30% by weight or more and 70% by weight or less of the solvent having a solubility parameter of 8 to 13.

The present invention provides resin beads that can provide various types of products, such as a cosmetic having excellent tactile impression, spreadability on the skin, and transparency, that can be substituted for resin particles composed of a synthetic material derived from petroleum, and that have favorable biodegradability, and the present invention also provides various types of products, such as a cosmetic using the resin beads. The resin beads are formed with a resin containing cellulose as a main component. The resin beads have a cumulative 50% particle size on a volume basis of 50 m or smaller, a degree of sphericity of 0.7 to 1.0, a degree of surface smoothness of 70 to 100%, a degree of solidity of 50 to 100%, and a biodegradation rate for 5 days, as measured in accordance with JIS K6950:2000 (ISO 14851:1999), of 20% or more, and the content of the cellulose in the resin is 90 to 100% by mass. In addition, the present invention provides a product of any one of a cosmetic, a dermatological preparation, a paint, a shaped article, a film, a coating agent, and a resin composition which contain the resin beads.

An antifogging film includes a film base and a saponified layer. The film base is formed of cellulose triacetate as cellulose acylate. The saponified layer is provided on a first base surface of the film base and serves as a first film surface of the antifogging film. The saponified layer contains saponified cellulose triacetate. The antifogging film is configured such that the first film surface has a contact angle of 20 or less 15 seconds after dropping of pure water thereto. In a case where the amount of acyl groups of the first film surface is X and the amount of acyl groups of a second base surface is Y, an acyl group ratio obtained by X/Y is 0.7 or less.

An antifogging film includes a film base and a saponified layer. The film base is formed of cellulose triacetate as cellulose acylate. The saponified layer is provided on a first base surface of the film base and serves as a first film surface of the antifogging film. The saponified layer contains saponified cellulose triacetate. The antifogging film is configured such that the first film surface has a contact angle of 20 or less 15 seconds after dropping of pure water thereto. In a case where the amount of acyl groups of the first film surface is X and the amount of acyl groups of a second base surface is Y, an acyl group ratio obtained by X/Y is 0.7 or less.

A method of simultaneously modifying degradation rates of at least two compounds including a first compound having a first unmodified degradation rate constant k.sub.1 and a second compound having a second unmodified degradation rate k.sub.2 is provided. The method includes combining a first composition including the first compound with a second composition including the second compound, degrading the first compound and forming a first degradation product; and degrading the second compound and forming a second degradation product. The second degradation product modifies the first unmodified degradation rate constant k.sub.1 of the first compound to a first modified degradation rate k.sub.1 and the first degradation product modifies the second unmodified degradation rate k.sub.2 of the second compound to a second modified degradation rate k.sub.2. Compositions resulting from the method are also provided.

A method of simultaneously modifying degradation rates of at least two compounds including a first compound having a first unmodified degradation rate constant k.sub.1 and a second compound having a second unmodified degradation rate k.sub.2 is provided. The method includes combining a first composition including the first compound with a second composition including the second compound, degrading the first compound and forming a first degradation product; and degrading the second compound and forming a second degradation product. The second degradation product modifies the first unmodified degradation rate constant k.sub.1 of the first compound to a first modified degradation rate k.sub.1 and the first degradation product modifies the second unmodified degradation rate k.sub.2 of the second compound to a second modified degradation rate k.sub.2. Compositions resulting from the method are also provided.