Abstract: The use of fermented sugar beet pulp for making paper or cardboard is disclosed as well as a fermented sugar beet pulp composition produced according to a method which comprises the steps of (a) storing the sugar beet pulp under conditions suitable for lactic acid fermentation, particularly until the pH is less than around 5 and advantageously higher than around 3.5, to give fermented pulp, (b) diluting the fermented pulp, particularly until its dry matter content is of around 1-10%, (c) mechanically processing the diluted fermented pulp to separate the parenchymal cells from the pulp and achieve a pulp size of less than around 1000 micrometers, and (d) optionally bleaching the fermented pulp from step (a) simultaneously with step (b), or bleaching the fermented pulp from step (c).

Abstract: A composition containing sugar microcrystals is disclosed. Essentially, the crystals are uniform unbroken single crystals with a regular geometrical shape and a grain size following a Gaussian distribution of which the median is of around 20-220 .mu.m, while the coefficient of variation is of around 20-50%, particularly 30-45%, 35-45% or 30-40%. The term "sugar" designates mono-, di- and oligosaccharides, as well as the polyols obtained by their reduction.

Abstract: A process and device produce fibrous starch materials through extrusion of a dispersion or aqueous solution of starch material in a flow of saline coagulant. The dispersion or aqueous solution is extruded through a microporous tubular wall in an annular chamber surrounding the microporous wall to obtain an extrusion flux of starch material which surrounds the tubular wall. Coagulation of the starch material is carried out by feeding a flow of coagulation agent in the annular chamber parallel to the extrusion surface. The fibers obtained from the process or device are able to be used in the paper sector as a substitution for or in combination with cellulose fibers.