A porous paper sheet includes a first base material; and paper pieces laminated on the first base material, and adhered to each other or adhered to the first base material using an adhesive such that the paper pieces have predetermined pores therebetween. The paper pieces are shredded in a predetermined size. A device for manufacturing the porous paper sheet, includes: a first base material feeder feeding a first base material; a conveyor unit including a conveyor belt on which the first base material is placed and rollers driving the conveyor belt; an adhesive nozzle positioned above the conveyor belt and applying an adhesive to the first base material; and a paper piece feeder positioned above the conveyor belt and feeding paper pieces to the first base material.

The present application relates to a method for efficiently producing an alkyl lactate from a byproduct or poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which is generated in the process of converting lactic acid into a lactide.

The invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of composite wood structures, which provides for increased production rates and machinability. More particularly, the process comprises combining wood particles with a composition comprising an aqueous protein and diluent dispersion.

A biodegradable cross-linked polymer and methods of preparing same are provided. The biodegradable cross-linked polymer is formed from a biodegradable polymeric material having two or more arms, which is a random copolymer formed of a first monomer and a second monomer different from the first monomer. The first monomer is selected from the group consisting of L-lactide, DL-lactide, glycolid, ϵ-caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, p-dioxanone, amino acid-derived polycarbonates and polyorthoesters. The second monomer is one or two selected from the group consisting of D-lactide, DL-lactide, glycolide, ϵ-caprolactone, trimethyl carbonate, salicylic acid, carbonates, amino acids and derivatives thereof. The biodegradable polymeric material has a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 1,200,000 and an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.1 to 9.0 dl/g. Each of the terminal groups on the arms of the biodegradable polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl amino and carboxyl groups.

A water-soluble film comprises a polyvinyl alcohol resin (A), wherein a difference (ΔR) between a phase retardation (Rα) of one of opposite surfaces (α surface) of the water-soluble film and a phase retardation (Rβ) of the other surface (β surface) of the water-soluble film is not greater than 8 nm as measured on a middle portion of the water-soluble film with respect to a transverse direction (TD) of the water-soluble film. Therefore, the water-soluble film has a reduced difference in crystallinity between the front and back surfaces thereof and, hence, is less liable to be curled to thereby ensure a higher productivity.

The subject matter of the present invention is a method for producing a biodegradable, non-porous composite material made water-absorbent and/or lipid-absorbent, used for obtaining diversely shaped solid objects to be subsequently loaded with active liquid hydrophilic and/or lipophilic compositions comprising at least one active ingredient intended to be delivered into an environment in a controlled and continuous manner. The absorption of the hydrophilic and/or lipophilic composition by said objects is achieved using a network of hydrophilic and/or lipophilic wicks formed in the non-porous material by the co-absorbents. Said method according to the invention is discontinuous, insofar as it comprises storage steps which are steps involving partial interruption of the process insofar as the intermediate products are storable. Indeed, the storage of the fine powder or meal obtained in the first part of the method requires that the maturation thereof allows the distribution of liquid substances in the mass of powder. The storage of the solid objects obtained promotes a flexible management of later operations for their loading with at least one active liquid composition which takes account of the intended purpose of the active objects. Said objects can be used in agriculture, feed supply, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, animal feed, hygiene, ambient air treatments, perfumery or in the maintenance of green spaces.

The present disclosure relates to thermally insulating food packaging and more particularly to containers for storing or transporting food when the temperature of the food is significantly different to that of the surrounding environment. In particular, a food packaging material for enclosing food is described, the material including a first, moisture-permeable inner layer, a second, moisture-impermeable outer layer and a third, insulating moisture-tolerant layer disposed between the first and second layers and spacing the first and second layer apart, wherein the third layer has an undulating form including voids and wherein the first, second and third layers are arranged such that moisture emanating from food within the container passes through the first layer and the third layer and condenses on the second, moisture-impermeable outer layer.

A modified filler composition for use in composites, such as paper and paper board, which is produced by reacting a filler material with a binder and a reactant material. Also, a method to produce composites, such as paper and paperboard, produced containing the modified filler composition is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a molding made from blowing agent-containing foam comprising at least one fiber (F), wherein the at least one fiber (F) is partially introduced into the blowing agent-containing foam. The two ends of the respective fiber (F) that are not surrounded by the blowing agent-containing foam thus project from one side of the corresponding molding. The present invention also provides the molding as such. The present invention further provides a panel comprising at least one such molding, produced by the process according to the invention, and at least one further layer (S1). The present invention also provides for the production of the panels of the invention and for the use thereof, for example as a rotor blade in wind turbines.

A thermoplastic starch composition acquired from compounding a mixture comprises starch-containing agricultural waste in 45 to 70% by weight of total composition that the agricultural waste contains starch content less than 50% in dry weight; thermoplastic synthetic polymer in 25 to 50% by weight of total composition; plasticizer in 1 to 10% by weight of total composition; and coupling agent in 1 to 5% by weight of total composition; wherein the compounding is performed at a first temperature which is higher than room temperature.

An insulated container may include a rigid container surrounding an insulation layer formed from a post-industrial, pre-consumer card waste. The insulation layer may include a natural fiber lamination layer on an outer surface of the insulation layer or may be housed in a biodegradable plastic. The insulated layer may be manufactured in a capital “T” shape such that it may be folded for compact transportation prior to end use. The folded insulation layer may bound by a separable band. The separable band may be removed when folded insulation layer is placed in the rigid container. The insulation layer and the band may be biodegradable in an anaerobic environment.

A process for preparing an algal powder containing a reduced content of proteins, a bioplastic composition formed from such a powder, a process for manufacturing a plastic product obtained from such an algal powder and also the plastic product obtained in this way. Process for preparing an algal powder, especially intended for the manufacture of a plastic product, including the successive steps of: culturing and/or harvesting an algal biomass; reducing by at least 10% the intrinsic amount of proteins of the algae, by weight relative to the weight of proteins of the harvested biomass; drying; and reducing to give powder or granules.

A process for manufacturing bags made of a biodegradable or biodegradable-compostable plastic material and without any bellows, said process comprising the following sequence of steps: loading a reel (12') of plastic film (13) obtained by blown-film extrusion and having a width which corresponds to the width of at least one bag (30) to be formed; longitudinally cutting along cutting lines (15) to form at least two longitudinal bands (13'); separating the bands to a given "D" distance from each other, and longitudinally welding; said steps being a function of the transversal dimension or width of the bag to be manufactured; transversally welding each individual longitudinal band (13') to define band portions (27) which corresponds to the longitudinal dimensions of the bags (30) to be formed, punching said band portions (27), moving and unloading the bags (30) thus formed.

A cleaning wipe having a high sustainable polymer content is provided. The cleaning wipe includes a fibrous layer having fibers of a melt spinnable sustainable polymer; and an abrasive layer having meltblown fibers of a melt spinnable sustainable polymer. The abrasive layer defining an outer surface of the cleaning wipe, and includes a plurality of abrasive structures formed thereon in which the abrasive structures are formed from conglomerated fibers, meltblown shot, fibers having average diameters greater than 4 micrometers and fibers having a tortuous geometry. The melt spinnable sustainable polymer content of the cleaning wipe is at least 50 weight % by weight of the cleaning wipe. A method of preparing the cleaning wipe is also provided.

The present invention relates to a masterbatch composition comprising high concentration of biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity and uses thereof for manufacturing biodegradable plastic articles.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

The polyoxalate copolymer according to the present invention is characterized by comprising constituent acid units derived from oxalic acid and constituent diol units derived from a diol ingredient, and is characterized in that the constituent diol units are derived from a combination of ethylene glycol and other diol(s) and that the temperature difference between the 5% weight loss temperature and the melting point, both determined by TG-DTA, is in the range of 50-80ºC.

The present invention provides a core/shell polymer particle for surface sizing of cellulosic products, wherein the core polymer and the shell polymer of the core/shell polymer particle are polymerized from monomers comprising at least 40%, by weight of monomers selected from branched C3-10-alkyl (meth)acrylate, styrene, linear C1-10-alkyl (meth)acrylate, and acrylonitrile, based on the total weight of the monomers of the core/shell polymer particle; provided that the polymer of the core/shell polymer particle comprises at least 40% by weight of branched C3-6-alkyl (meth)acrylate and at least 50% by combined weight of branched C3-10-alkyl (meth)acrylate and styrene, linear C1-10-alkyl (meth)acrylate, and/or acrylonitrile, based on the total weight of the monomers of the core/shell polymer particle.

Described herein are strength characteristics and biodegradation of articles produced using one or more petrochemical-based polymers and one or more carbohydrate-based polymers. A compatibilizer can optionally be included in the article. In some cases, the article can include a film or bag.

The invention provides a foam, comprising a cellular structure and having a density of at most 0.50 g/cm3, wherein the cellular structure is provided by a solid material that comprises humins. Such a foam is prepared in a process, which comprises: - providing a starting material containing humins; and - heating the starting material to a temperature in the range of 150 to 450 °C. The foam can be used in articles for a variety of applications such as substrate for plant growth, as adsorbent for treating waste water or waste gases, as support for solid catalysts, as insulation material, or packaging material.

Disclosed herein is a method for removing nitrogen from water, which makes it possible to omit equipment for controlling the supply of a carbon source (hydrogen donor), equipment for post-processing a carbon source (hydrogen donor), and circulation equipment and to prevent an increase in the size of a system. The method includes adding a solid material containing a biodegradable resin as a hydrogen donor to one water system in which bacteria cells having an ability to decompose a biodegradable resin, bacteria cells having nitrification capabilities, and bacteria cells having denitrification capabilities live together to allow a nitrification reaction and a denitrification reaction coexist in the water system. Also disclosed herein is a nitrification-reaction promoting agent for water treatment including 20 wt% or more of a biodegradable resin and having a specific gravity of more than 1 g/cm 3 .

The thermoformable multilayer film comprises a layer based on moisture absorbing material, a moisture-permeable layer based on biologically degradable polymers, a carrier layer and a gas barrier layer. The moisture absorbing layer has super-absorbent polymers, which are connected in particulate form embedded in polymer matrix or with a polymer bonding agent. The proportion of the super-absorbent polymer to the polymer matrix or polymer bonding agent is 1:10-10:1. The gas barrier layer is connected with a neighboring layer on an adhesive layer, and is an oxygen and water vapor barrier layer.

The invention relates to a capsule for use in a device for preparing beverages. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a capsule according to the invention. The invention also relates to an assembly of such a capsule and to a device for preparing beverages.

The present invention relates to a polymeric depollutant foam composition capable of absorbing oily pollutants from water or soil, and further capable of biodegrading, thereby releasing micro- and macronutrients into the environment. The foam composition to which the invention relates comprises: - vegetable oils rich in ricinoleic acid and derivatives thereof; - industrial waste from vegetable oil production or originating from utilization of plants; - industrial waste containing sugars; - alumina trihydrate; - micro- and macronutrients; - microorganisms.

A thermally insulating packaging to hold an item includes a solid compostable or recyclable shell that is formed primarily of a plant fiber, and a bottom cover. The shell includes a floor, a plurality of inner side walls that are coupled to the floor, a rim coupled to the plurality of inner side walls, and a plurality of outer side walls that are couple to the rim. The floor and the plurality of inner side walls define an interior space of the shell to receive the item and an opening to the interior space. The plurality of inner side walls and plurality of outer side walls have a space therebetween that defines a gap. The gap can be an air-filled cavity, or be filled with a compostable or recyclable core material.