Abstract: The use of a curable resin composition as a binder in the production of a wood composite, wherein the curable resin composition comprises a copolymer of carbon monoxide with an olefinically unsaturated compound and a curing agent; a wood composite comprising wood parts adhered to one another by means of a cured binder which is obtainable by curing said curable resin composition; and an article of manufacture comprising said wood composite are provided.

Abstract: A process for upgrading low-quality wood to high-quality wood comprising the following stages:a) softening the wood by directly heating it electrically in the presence of a softening agent at a pressure of at least the equilibrium vapor pressure of the softening agent at the operating temperature;b) drying the softened wood;c) curing the dried wood; andd) cooling the cured wood.

Abstract: A process for upgrading low-quality wood including a softening stage, wherein one or more sections of low-quality wood are heated, in the presence of an aqueous medium and at a pressure which is at least the equilibrium pressure of the medium at the operating temperature, to a temperature in the range of from about 120.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C. and maintaining the temperature until the temperature difference between the center and the outer parts of the sections is less than about 20.degree. C., a dewatering stage and a curing stage.

Abstract: A cellulosic fibrous aggregate formed from sections of cellulosic fibrous material by a process which comprises:a softening stage comprising softening a plurality of sections of cellulosic fibrous material by the action of an aqueous softening agent at elevated temperature, thereby at least partially breaking down the cellulosic cross-linking in the cellulosic fibrous material;a compression stage comprising pressing together the softened sections of cellulosic fibrous material to form a compressed matrix; anda consolidation stage comprising dewatering and consolidating the compressed matrix to form a consolidated matrix, and a process for its preparation comprising the aforementioned softening, compression and consolidation stages.

Abstract: Process for producing hydrocarbon-containing liquids from biomass which comprises introducing biomass in the presence of water at a pressure higher than the partial vapor pressure of water at the prevailing temperature into a reaction zone at a temperature of at least 300.degree. C. and keeping the biomass in the reaction zone for more than 30 seconds, separating solids from fluid leaving the reaction zone while maintaining the remaining fluid in a single phase, and subsequently separating liquids from the remaining fluid.

Abstract: Low rank coal is dewatered and upgraded by heating a coal/water mixture at 150.degree. to 300.degree. C. at a pressure preventing water vaporization, mechanically separating the water, then heating the coal at 300.degree. to 400.degree. C. at a pressure allowing water vaporization.