Abstract: The invention relates to a composite material based on water-insoluble polysaccharide. The composite material includes particles of at least one light scattering material, the surface of which is essentially covered by at least one water-insoluble polysaccharide material. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of the composite material. Further, the invention relates to a paper and board manufacturing process, in which said composite materials are employed as manufacturing materials. Both highly organic end products with exceptional heat capacities and cheap, high filler end products can be manufactured. The invention also relates to a method for improving retention of light scattering filler material in the manufacture of paper and board.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depolymerizing starch comprising mixing a starch material with an ionic liquid solvent to dissolve the starch, and then treating the dissolved starch by agitating at a temperature and for a period for time to effect depolymerization of the starch into desired depolymerization products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dissolving wood, straw and other natural lignocellulosic materials in an ionic liquid solvent under microwave irradiation and/or under pressure. The invention also relates to the resulting solution and to methods for separating cellulose and other organic compounds, such as lignin and extractives, from the solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a cellulose ether. The method comprises mixing cellulose with an ionic liquid solvent to dissolve the cellulose, and then treating the dissolved cellulose with an etherifying agent in the presence of an inorganic base to form a cellulose ether, and subsequently separating the cellulose ether from the solution, wherein both the dissolution and the etherification are carried out in the absence of an organic base and in the substantial absence of water. Microwave irradiation and/or pressure can be applied to assist in dissolution and etherification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an organic starch ester. The method comprises mixing a starch material with an ionic liquid solvent to dissolve the starch, and then treating the dissolved starch with an organic esterifying agent to form an organic starch ester, and subsequently separating the organic starch ester from the solution. Microwave irradiation and/or pressure can be applied to assist in dissolution and esterification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coated plant seeds, comprising seeds coated with at least one fixing agent comprising an asparatic acid derivative, and with at least one plant nutrient. The present invention is further directed to a method for coating seeds, and a coating composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of regenerating hydrogenated and/or oxygenated alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl anthrahydroquinones to alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl anthrahydroquinones, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation.

Abstract: A method of hydrogenating alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthraquinones to alkyl anthrahydroquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthrahydroquinones is disclosed. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation, such as microwave irradiation. The invention further relates to a method of hydrogenating a working solution in a hydrogen peroxide production process, wherein the working solution contains alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthraquinones dissolved in at least one solvent to convert the quinines to the corresponding alkyl anthrahydroquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthrahydroquinones, where the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation such as microwave irradiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of regenerating hydrogenated and/or oxygenated alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl anthrahydroquinones to alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl anthrahydroquinones, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation.

Abstract: Methods for the preparation of an N-alkyl-N-bis-(2-( 1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-amine derivative are described, products of the methods as well as uses of the products. The derivative is prepared by reacting an alkali or earth alkali metal salt of maleic acid with an N-substituted diethanolamine, the reaction taking place with the two ethanol groups of the diamine while the substituent group bound to the N atom remains unaffected, or alternatively by first reacting diethanolamine with an alkali or earth alkali metal salt of maleic acid to yield N-bis-(2-(1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-amine, which is then reacted with a substitution reagent to obtain the final product. The derivative is useful as chelating agents, e.g., in the bleaching of chemical or mechanical pulp or in textile bleaches containing hydrogen peroxide or a peracid, or as a calcium binder in detergents and cleaning agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of hydrogenating alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthraquinones to alkyl anthrahydroquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthrahydroquinones, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation. Additionally the invention relates to a method of hydrogenating a working solution in a hydrogen peroxide production process, said working solution containing alkyl anthraquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthraquinones dissolved in at least one solvent, to convert said quinones to corresponding alkyl anthrahydroquinones and/or alkyl hydroanthrahydroquinones, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst under electromagnetic irradiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the bleaching of chemical pulp, wherein the pulp is delignified and/or bleached with chlorine dioxide or with a combination of chlorine dioxide and a per-compound, and additionally the pulp is chelated in order to bind heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn and/or Cu, to a chelate complex. The chelate complex is selected from the group made up of N-bis-[(1,2-dicarboxylethoxy)-ethyl]-amine, N-bis[(1,2-dicarboxylethoxy)-ethyl]-aspartic acid and N-tris-[(1,2-dicarboxylethoxy)-ethyl]-amine, and the alkali metal and earth-alkali metal salts of these, and the chelating treatments are carried out simultaneously by combining the chelating chemical with the pulp in the same bleaching stage as chlorine dioxide.

Abstract: A process for the bleaching of chemical pulp, in which process the pulp is delignified with a peracid and additionally the pulp is chelated in order to bind heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn and/or Cu, into a chelate complex. According to the invention, the chelating is carried out using a chemical which has been selected from a group consisting of N-bis-((1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-amine, N-bis-((1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-aspartic acid and N-tris-((1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-amine, as well as the alkali metal and earth-alkali metal salts thereof, and the peracid and chelating treatments are carried out simultaneously by combining the peracid and the said chelating chemical in the same solution phase. In the bleaching sequence the treatment according to the invention may follow, for example, an ozone delignification and precede an alkaline peroxide step, and in the latter case a magnesium compound, such as MgSO4, may be added to the pulp before the alkali step.

Abstract: The invention relates to N-bis- or N-tris-[(1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl]-amine derivatives having the formula (I) ##STR1## and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, an alkali metal or an earth-alkali metal. The invention also relates to a method for preparing the same and their use as chelating agents.

Abstract: The method for the preparation of aqueous solutions containing performic acid formed by reaction of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide n the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst being a compound containing at least one ester group and/or group (a) differing from a carboxylic acid group and an alcoholic group, preferably a carboxylic acid ester, and aqueous solutions containing performic acid, formic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and a compound containing at least one ester group and/or group (a) differing from a carboxylic acid group, and the use of such solutions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing hydrogen peroxide using a process based on anthraquinone derivatives. According to the invention the solvent system of the working solution in said process contains carbamate having a general formula ##STR1## where groups R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which can be the same or different ones, are a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group and R.sup.3 is a hydrocarbon group,whereby the groups R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can optionally be part of a cyclic structure and/or substituted by groups which are inert to the process.