The hydroxyethyl cellulose derived from biomass is made by preparing a biomass by extracting resins and waxes, acid leaching, and alkali treatment to obtain a cellulose-rich residue, and then bleaching the cellulose-rich residue, followed by hydroxyethylation of the cellulose to obtain hydroxyethyl cellulose. The use of hydroxyethyl cellulose in brine treatment include reacting concentrated brine and hydroxyethyl cellulose with an effluent gas stream to capture CO.sub.2 and reduce salinity of the concentrated brine. The reduced salinity brine may then be useful for enhanced oil recovery methods.

Embodiments herein are directed to moisturizing compositions comprising interpenetrating polymer networks, methods of making moisturizing compositions and methods of using moisturizing compositions.

The hydroxyethyl cellulose derived from biomass is made by preparing a biomass by extracting resins and waxes, acid leaching, and alkali treatment to obtain a cellulose-rich residue, and then bleaching the cellulose-rich residue, followed by hydroxyethylation of the cellulose to obtain hydroxyethyl cellulose. The use of hydroxyethyl cellulose in brine treatment include reacting concentrated brine and hydroxyethyl cellulose with an effluent gas stream to capture CO.sub.2 and reduce salinity of the concentrated brine. The reduced salinity brine may then be useful for enhanced oil recovery methods.

A method for the synthesis of alkyl ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.

A method for the synthesis of alkyl ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.

A method for the synthesis of alkyl ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.

A method for the synthesis of alkyl ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the ω-carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.

A process includes: (a) providing an initial cellulose ether powder containing 0.5 to 10 weight-percent water based on total cellulose ether powder weight; (b) heating the initial cellulose ether powder to a temperature in a range of 30 to 130 degrees Celsius; (c) before, during and/or after heating in step (b), adding solid base to the cellulose ether powder and mixing with the initial cellulose ether powder to form a cellulose ether/base mixture; (d) adding volatile acid to the cellulose ether/base mixture and mixing; and (e) allowing the volatile acid to hydrolyze the initial cellulose ether to form a final cellulose ether having a lower viscosity than the initial cellulose ether.

A method for the synthesis of alkyl -carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharides is described. The method includes methylating or ethylating a polysaccharide or providing a methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, hydroxyethylating the methylated or ethylated polysaccharide, and oxidizing the hydroxyethylated polysaccharide to form the -carboxy(hydroxyethyl) polysaccharide. A method for the synthesis of oxidized polysaccharides is also described. The method includes hydroxypropylating a polysaccharide and oxidizing the hydroxypropylated polysaccharides. A method for the production of a solid capable of forming a hydrogel is also described. The method includes combining a first solution comprising an oxidized oligo(hydroxypropyl) polysaccharide bearing one or more ketone groups with a second solution comprising an amine substituted polysaccharide to form a third solution, and removing solvent from the third solution to form the solid, or adding an additional solvent to the third solution to precipitate the solid. Novel polysaccharides and hydrogels prepared according to these methods are also described.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pulverized pulp in which the viscosity reduction caused by pulverization is mitigated and a method for producing cellulose ethers using such pulverized pulp. The above object is achieved by a pulverized pulp of being a pulverized product of a raw material pulp having a pH of 7.5 to 10.5 when measured by dispersing the raw material pulp in water, and having a percent decrease of 30% or less in viscosity caused by pulverization; and a method of producing a cellulose ether including reacting an alkali cellulose obtained from the pulverized pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution with an etherifying agent to obtain the cellulose ether.