Abstract: Provided is a method for industrially mass-producing a modified xylopolysaccharide from biomass. The biomass used as a raw material includes xylan in plant cell walls, having at least one kind of substituents selected from acetyl, feruloyl arabinofuranosyl and coumaroyl arabinofuranosyl groups in the side chains of xylan. A passage controlling mechanism is internally arranged to generate plug-flow onto a slurry containing the biomass at a solid content in 10 mass % to 30 mass %. The hydrothermal treatment is performed under the controlled conditions: at a temperature of 160° C. or more, at a pressure equal to or higher than the saturated water vapor pressure at said temperature, and with a reaction severity R0 ranging from 3000 to 7000. A modified xylopolysaccharide is obtained as preserving the substituents in the side chains of xylan by performing a continuous hydrothermal treatment in a cylindrical plug-flow reactor.

Abstract: Provided is a method for industrially mass-producing a modified xylopolysaccharide from biomass. The biomass used as a raw material includes xylan in plant cell walls, having at least one kind of substituents selected from acetyl, feruloyl arabinofuranosyl and coumaroyl arabinofuranosyl groups in the side chains of xylan. A passage controlling mechanism is internally arranged to generate plug-flow onto a slurry containing the biomass at a solid content in 10 mass % to 30 mass %. The hydrothermal treatment is performed under the controlled conditions: at a temperature of 160° C. or more, at a pressure equal to or higher than the saturated water vapor pressure at said temperature, and with a reaction severity R0 ranging from 3000 to 7000. A modified xylopolysaccharide is obtained as preserving the substituents in the side chains of xylan by performing a continuous hydrothermal treatment in a cylindrical plug-flow reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose nanofibers that have good dispersibility in water and can be contained in a water-soluble polymer at high concentration, and to a method for obtaining the cellulose nanofibers. The present invention further relates to a fiber reinforced composite material using the cellulose nanofibers. Cellulose nanofibers having an average degree of polymerization of 100 or more and 800 or less and an aspect ratio of 150 or more and 2000 or less are produced by subjecting unmodified cellulose to an enzyme and/or acid treatment, and to a mechanical shearing treatment. The cellulose nanofibers have good dispersibility and can be dispersed in a water-soluble polymer at high concentration, and therefore a fiber reinforced composite material having high strength can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose nanofibers that have good dispersibility in water and can be contained in a water-soluble polymer at high concentration, and to a method for obtaining the cellulose nanofibers. The present invention further relates to a fiber reinforced composite material using the cellulose nanofibers. Cellulose nanofibers having an average degree of polymerization of 100 or more and 800 or less and an aspect ratio of 150 or more and 2000 or less are produced by subjecting unmodified cellulose to an enzyme and/or acid treatment, and to a mechanical shearing treatment. The cellulose nanofibers have good dispersibility and can be dispersed in a water-soluble polymer at high concentration, and therefore a fiber reinforced composite material having high strength can be obtained.