A protectant and sealant solution and method of use thereof, configured to protect wood from premature decay when disposed in contact with the earth. The solution is composed of processed hemp oil which is mixed with bio-diesel and other oils to form the protectant solution. The wood is then impregnated with the solution via pressure treatment within a retort cylinder. The solution is configured to protect utility poles and other wooden construction members which are known for prolonged contact with soil. The solution is designed as a safe replacement for pentachlorophenol solutions which have been found to be harmful to the soil and water table.

A protectant and sealant solution and method of use thereof, configured to protect wood from premature decay when disposed in contact with the earth. The solution is composed of processed hemp oil which is mixed with bio-diesel and other oils to form the protectant solution. The wood is then impregnated with the solution via pressure treatment within a retort cylinder. The solution is configured to protect utility poles and other wooden construction members which are known for prolonged contact with soil. The solution is designed as a safe replacement for pentachlorophenol solutions which have been found to be harmful to the soil and water table.

A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

The invention is directed to a process for the continuous acetylation of wood elements. The process particularly combines a batchwise impregnation step, with a continuous reaction step. In order to realize this, a collection step is built-in, so as to allow batches of impregnated wood elements to be fed into a reactor in a continuous manner. Very high acetylation contents can be obtained, at a level that had not been achievable before in a continuous and non-catalyzed acetylation process.

Methods for treating cellulosic materials comprising introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material, the treating composition comprising a solution prepared from at least: (i) one or more of a copper amine complex or copper ammine complex, such as copper tetraamine carbonate, (ii) one or more of ammonia or a water-soluble amine and (iii) water; and exposing the cellulosic material provided thereby to carbon dioxide and/or carbonic acid to provide treated cellulosic material, and treated cellulosic materials prepared thereby.

Methods for treating cellulosic materials comprising introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material, the treating composition comprising a solution prepared from at least: (i) one or more of a copper amine complex or copper ammine complex, such as copper tetraamine carbonate, (ii) one or more of ammonia or a water-soluble amine and (iii) water; and exposing the cellulosic material provided thereby to carbon dioxide and/or carbonic acid to provide treated cellulosic material, and treated cellulosic materials prepared thereby.

A method for chemically modifying a wood part comprising hydroxyl groups comprising: a first step of covalently reacting all or part of the hydroxyl groups with at least one non-polymeric compound comprising at least one group capable of covalently reacting with a hydroxyl group, whereby the wood part is thus covalently linked to residues of the non-polymeric compound(s); after or simultaneously with the first step, a second step of covalently reacting all or part of the residues of the non-polymeric compound(s) with at least one second compound, the first step and the second step being performed in the presence of at least one supercritical fluid.

An aqueous based coating composition comprising a fatty amine quaternary having the structure of formula (I): R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4N.sup.+X.sup.− wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently selected from saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aralkyl, or alkenyl groups comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, whereby at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is a C12-C30 group, and X.sup.− is an anion from an inorganic or organic acid, is provided. The fatty amine quaternary may contain ethoxy and/or propoxy groups. One or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 may be substituted and contain one or more hydroxyl substituents or ether linkages. Methods for imparting water resistance to a wood substrate having up to 100% moisture by applying a coating composition having the fatty amine quaternary of formula (I), and for preparing an aqueous coating composition comprising the fatty amine quaternary of formula (I) are provided. Also provided is a coated water resistant wood substrate comprising the fatty amine quaternary of formula (I).

A flame retardant treatment of a lignocellulosic material, which includes: optionally steam exploding the lignocellulosic material, impregnating the optionally steam-exploded lignocellulosic material, in or with an aqueous solution, from 0.5% to 10% of phytic acid and from 1% to 30% of urea, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, optionally drying of the impregnated lignocellulosic material, until the impregnated lignocellulosic material has a moisture content from 5% to 20% by weight, cooking the impregnated and optionally dried lignocellulosic material, the resulting flame-retarded lignocellulosic material including a phosphorous content originating from the phytic acid from 0.1% to 10% by weight. Also, the resulting flame-retarded lignocellulosic material and the use thereof for manufacturing flame-retarded composite materials based on plant fibres, woven or nonwoven flame-retarded flexible materials based on plant fibres, and particularly textiles, flame-retarded materials based on wood fibres and/or on wood particles, and particularly flame-retarded wood panels.

A flexible structure is formed by subjecting cellulose-based natural wood material to a chemical treatment that partially removes hemicellulose and lignin therefrom. The treated wood has a unique 3-D porous structure with numerous channels, excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, and improved flexibility as compared to the natural wood. By further modifying the treated wood, the structure can be adapted to particular applications. For example, nanoparticles, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, or any other coating or material can be added to the treated wood to form a hybrid structure. In some embodiments, open lumina within the structure can be at least partially filled with a non-wood substance, such as a flexible polymer, or with entangled cellulose nanofibers. The unique architecture and superior properties of the flexible wood allow for its use in various applications, such as, but not limited to, structural materials, solar thermal devices, flexible electronics, tissue engineering, thermal management, and energy storage.