Abstract: A method for preparing stably dispersed cellulose nanofibers comprises the following steps: 1) mixing cellulose and an organic solvent, the percentage of the cellulose being 1% to 15% in weight; 2) adding an esterification agent into the resultant mixture of step 1), the molar ratio of the esterification agent to the cellulose being from 1:0.1 to 4; and 3) physically breaking the resultant mixture of step 2) until a suspension liquid with stably dispersed cellulose nanofibers of 2-1000 nm in diameter and 10-100 ?m in length is obtained, an esterification reaction of hydroxyl group(s) on the surface of cellulose fibers occurring at the time of the breaking. Also disclosed are dispersed cellulose nanofibers with improved compatibility to the matrix than the untreated cellulose and an improved strength of the composite materials.

Abstract: A method for preparing stably dispersed cellulose nanofibers comprises the following steps: 1) mixing cellulose and an organic solvent, the percentage of the cellulose being 1% to 15% in weight; 2) adding an esterification agent into the resultant mixture of step 1), the molar ratio of the esterification agent to the cellulose being from 1:0.1 to 4; and 3) physically breaking the resultant mixture of step 2) until a suspension liquid with stably dispersed cellulose nanofibers of 2-1000 nm in diameter and 10-100 ?m in length is obtained, an esterification reaction of hydroxyl group(s) on the surface of cellulose fibers occurring at the time of the breaking. Also disclosed are dispersed cellulose nanofibers with improved compatibility to the matrix than the untreated cellulose and an improved strength of the composite materials.

Abstract: A composite material comprising regenerated cellulose and a synthetic polymer, both of which are compounded with each other on the order of nanometers, and having both excellent qualities inherent in the cellulose and those inherent in another polymer; and a process for production of the material. A composite material which comprises regenerated cellulose and a synthetic polymer as solid components, wherein fine fibers of the regenerated cellulose form a continuous region and the synthetic polymer is arranged around the fine fibers and the mean diameter of the fine fibers is 1 ?m or below, preferably 100 nm or below, still preferably 50 nm or below.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ?-chitin complex composed of an inclusion compound formed by using a ?-chitin as a host and a guest compound which is a compound having a functional group that can form a hydrogen bond with a hydroxyl group and/or an amide group of the ?-chitin and having a melting point of at least 60° C. The ?-chitin complex is prepared by a method comprising the step of heating a guest compound to its melting point or higher to prepare a melt of the guest compound and the step of immersing an anhydrous ?-chitin in this melt, or a method comprising the step of dissolving or suspending a guest compound in a solvent to prepare a guest carrier solution and the step of immersing a ?-chitin in the guest carrier solution.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of synthesizing a novel form of cellulose I as well as methods of synthesizing a novel form of cellulose I in vitro. One method comprises contacting an activated saccharide substrate with an endoglucanase in an appropriate organic solvent/buffer ratio. The invention also encompasses a partially purified endoglucanase and a method of synthesizing cellooligosaccharides. A second method comprises contacting a nucleotide sugar with a purified glycosyl transferase in an appropriate buffer medium to insure polymerization and crystallization of parallel glucan chains from the enzyme/micelle complex to form cellulose I.