A method for preparing a rooting plug is disclosed. The method calls for mixing a composition comprising (i) 0.2%-10% w/w bio-degradable polymer and (ii) an organic non-hydroxylic solvent with a plug mix. The resulting method prepares a rooting plug.

Disclosed is a composition comprising (a) a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material; and (b) a cellulose derivative. A process for preparing the composition is also disclosed. The process can comprise providing a cellulose derivative in a solvent; and mixing a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material into the solvent. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can comprise 90% of particles ranging from 0.01 to 5 mm in size. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can be derived from a biomass residue.

Disclosed is a composition comprising (a) a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material; and (b) a cellulose derivative. A process for preparing the composition is also disclosed. The process can comprise providing a cellulose derivative in a solvent; and mixing a lignocellulosic material and/or a cellulosic material into the solvent. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can comprise 90% of particles ranging from 0.01 to 5 mm in size. The lignocellulosic material and/or the cellulosic material can be derived from a biomass residue.

The present invention provides an ionic liquid composition containing an ionic liquid and water. The ionic liquid composition does not contain an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing cellulose. The ionic liquid is represented by the following chemical formula (I): [(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2OH].sup.+[NH.sub.2-L-CHNH.sub.2COO].sup. (I); where L is absent or a linker. A molar ratio of [(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2OH].sup.+ to [NH.sub.2-L-CHNH.sub.2COO].sup. is not less than 0.87 and not more than 1.14. A weight ratio of the water to the ionic liquid composition is not more than 7.3%. The present invention provides an ionic liquid composition capable of dissolving cellulose without a cellulose-degrading enzyme, namely, an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing cellulose.

A toughened polyester composite comprising: (i) a polyester matrix and (ii) droplets of a high boiling point liquid having a boiling point of at least 140 C. dispersed in said polyester matrix, wherein the high boiling point liquid is present in an amount of 0.1-10 wt % by weight of the toughened polyester composite, and wherein the composite may further include: (iii) a modifier selected from polycarboxylic, polyol, and polyamine compounds, wherein the modifier is present in an amount of 0.1-10 wt % by weight of the toughened polyester composite. Methods for producing the polyester composite are also described.

The present disclosure relates to an economical method of preparing a resin composition including a polyalkylene carbonate with improved thermal stability and processability. More specifically, the method of preparing a resin composition includes the steps of polymerizing carbon dioxide and an epoxide compound in the presence of a zinc-based catalyst and a solvent, recovering monomers, removing the catalyst and recovering raw materials, solution-blending with a thermostable resin to improve the thermal stability and processability, and removing the solvent and byproducts from the reaction mixture by using an agitated flash drum and an extrusion or kneader-type devolatilizer.

The present disclosure relates to an economical method of preparing a resin composition including a polyalkylene carbonate with improved thermal stability and processability. More specifically, the method of preparing a resin composition includes the steps of polymerizing carbon dioxide and an epoxide compound in the presence of a zinc-based catalyst and a solvent, recovering monomers, removing the catalyst and recovering raw materials, solution-blending with a thermostable resin to improve the thermal stability and processability, and removing the solvent and byproducts from the reaction mixture by using an agitated flash drum and an extrusion or kneader-type devolatilizer.

In an aspect, a method of making a composition, comprising forming a solvent mixture comprising a polymer and a solvent; precipitating the solvent mixture with a non-solvent to form the composition comprising the filler in a fibrillated polymer matrix, wherein the composition is in the form of a particulate and at least one of the solvent and the non-solvent comprises a filler; and separating the composition from the solvent and the non-solvent to isolate the composition. In another aspect, a porous material wherein the filler particles are mechanically bonded together by the polymer and wherein the polymer is present as filaments adhering to and connecting the filler particles across interstitial spaces between the filler particles. In another aspect, a precipitated polymer solution produced by a phase inversion where the majority of the liquids can be mechanically removed.

A method for producing a silver nanoparticle dispersion according to the present invention includes the steps of mixing an amine compound, a resin, and a silver salt to yield a complex compound; and heating and decomposing the complex compound to form silver nanoparticles. A silver nanoparticle ink can be obtained by adding an organic solvent to the silver nanoparticle dispersion obtained by this method. The resin includes, for example, a polymer exhibiting viscosity at a temperature within the range of 20 C. to 50 C. or a high molecular weight compound exhibiting viscosity at a temperature within the range of 20 C. to 50 C.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing hydrophilic biopolymers, particularly hydrophilic cellulosic material, particularly cellulose nanofibers like micro- or nanofibrillated cellulose, as described in claim 1; to novel materials comprising hydrophilic biopolymers and to the use of such hydrophilic biopolymers.