Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing precursor yarn comprising lignin, which may be further processed into intermediate carbon fibers and finally also carbon fibers. It also relates to carbon fibers and uses of said fibers. Said method involves applying a water-free spin finish.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring smart package content use, wherein the system comprises a smart package. The smart package in turn comprises removable content units, such as pill type or tablet type or other singly packed objects, as well as most preferably wireless communication elements. The system comprises also database elements with which the smart package can be in communication. In addition, the smart package is adapted to detect said removal of a content unit and to deliver information to said database elements by way of said communication elements, regarding a removal of said content unit. The smart package is identifiable by the database elements on the basis of information delivered by way of said communication elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crystalline and stable amorphous CaCO3 precipitated on lignocellulosic fibers.

Abstract: A biodegradable packaging material, a method of manufacturing the same, as well as products made of the material wherein a multilayer coating coextruded onto a fibrous substrate the multilayer coating comprising innermost and outermost layers of a blend comprising 20-95 wt-% of a higher melt index polylactide and 5-80 wt-% of another biodegradable polymer such as polybutylene succinate, and a middle layer containing a lower melt index polylactide alone. The goal is to increase machine speed in coextrusion while maintaining good adhesiveness to the substrate and good heat-sealability of the coating. The products include disposable drinking cups and board trays, as well as sealed carton packages for solids and liquids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a modified wood product wherein a step of resin treatment is followed by a thermal modification step. The present invention also relates to a modified wood product produced using said process.

Abstract: A method of modifying a polymer having hydroxyl groups, selected from the group of polysaccharides and lignin, to give a modified polymer comprising the step of contacting said polymer with at least one organic phosphonate salt in order to chemically modify the polymer, said organic phosphonate salt being in a liquid phase. The method of polymer modification provides novel polymers. Modified polymers obtained from a polymer having been treated with at least one organic phosphonate salt are also disclosed. The modified polymers can be used as such or separated and optionally recovered from the solution, optionally being formed into particular materials or shapes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes for the production of 2-5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and intermediates thereof by the chemocatalytic conversion of a furanic oxidation substrate. The present disclosure further provides processes for preparing derivatives of FDCA and FDCA-based polymers. In addition, the present disclosure provides crystalline preparations of FDCA, as well as processes for making the same.

Abstract: A corrugated fiberboard comprising cellulosic fibers, wherein said corrugated fiberboard has at least one of a geometrical tensile index in the range of from 32 to 65 Nm/g, a fracture toughness index in the range of from 4 to 24 Jm/kg, and a ring crush index in the range of from 5 to 10 Nm/g5 measured at relative humidity of 85% RH; wherein the cellulosic fibers comprises a mixture of less refined fibers having a Schopper-Riegler (SR) value in the range of 15 to 28 and microfibrillated cellulose fibers, wherein mixture comprises said microfibrillated cellulose in a range of from 1% to 5% by weight of the dry content of the cellulosic fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid lignin mixture comprising 3-50 wt % methanol, 12-50 wt % lignin and 5-85 wt % aqueous alkali solution wherein the concentration of said aqueous alkali solution is 1 to 50 wt % of alkali in water, based on the weight of said alkali solution prior to mixing with the other components of the mixture. The liquid lignin mixture can be used to manufacture lignin-based phenolic resins, which are particularly useful in the manufacture of laminates.

Abstract: A sheet having dead-fold properties, wherein said sheet comprises cellulose fibers whereof at least 75%, preferably at least 90%, or more preferably at least 95% of said cellulose fibers have a fiber length of less than 1 mm, and wherein the tensile strength ratio (MD/CD) of the film is above 1.4, preferably higher than 1.6 and most preferably higher than 1.8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a lignin polyol, a method for the manufacturing of said composition and use thereof in different application areas, such as in adhesives, binders, castings, foams (such as in rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams for thermal insulation and construction applications, semi-rigid, flexible, moulded, laminated, microcellular and viscoelastic polyurethane foams), fillers, glues, sealants, elastomers and rubbers. The present invention also relates to a method for the manufacturing of a foam and use of this foam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process for improving dewatering when manufacturing a film comprising high amounts of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) without negatively impacting the film properties. According to the present invention a high amount of nanoparticles is used as an additive, optionally together with a polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production of a composite comprising microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and precipitated calcium carbonate. The method is characterized in that MFC is added to a suspension of calcium hydroxide during carbonation, whereby calcium carbonate is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of the MFC in a controlled manner. By adding microfibrillated cellulose to the calcium suspension during the carbonation, the brightness and the strength of the MFC/PCC-composite is enhanced. Moreover, the inventive method facilitates the distribution of calcium dioxide and MFC in the suspension and thus gives rise to a more homogenous product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to extraction of phytosterols from alkaline tall oil soap which is obtained from the Kraft process black liquor by skimming. In the method according to the present invention, phytosterols are extracted using dibromomethane, bromoform, tetrabromomethane or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A biodegradable packaging material, a method of manufacturing the same, as well as products made of the material wherein the manufacture comprises extrusion onto a fibrous substrate one or mote polymer coating layers including at least one layer of a polymer blend consisting of (i) 20-95 wt-% of polylactide having a high melt index of more than 35 g/10 min (210° C.; 2.16 kg), (ii) 5-80 wt-% of polybutylene succinate (PBS) or a biodegradable derivate thereof, and (iii) 0-5 wt-% of one or more polymeric additives. The components of the blend are melted and blended in connection with the extrusion step. The goal is to improve extrudability, increase machine speed in extrusion and maintaining good adhesiveness to the substrate and wood heat-sealability of the coating. The products include disposable drinking cups and board trays, as well as sealed carton packages for solids and liquids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to altering the biomass and/or structure of a plant, in order to maximise its potential as a source of feedstock or increase its potential as a feedstock for the paper industry. CLE41 and/or CLE42 are used to manipulate growth and structure of the vascular tissue of the plant. The present invention also provides plants in which the levels of CLE41 and/or CLE42 are increased compared to those of a native plant grown under identical conditions, and parts of such plants. Also provided are methods for using such plants or plant parts in the production of plant derived products such as paper or biofuels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing at least one ply of a paper or board product wherein a web comprising mechanical and/or chemimechanical pulp and at least one dry strength additive is dried in a press drying process by subjecting the web to heat and an overpressure of above 40 kPa. The present invention also relates to a paper product, a paperboard product and a ply produced according to the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to process for the production of a coated substrate comprising cellulosic fibers, the process comprising the steps of: i) providing a first substrate comprising cellulosic fibers and having a dry content of less than 50%; ii) applying a coating composition to the first substrate in an amount of more than 5 g/m2, calculated as dry weight of the coating composition, wherein the coating composition comprises: microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), and optionally a water retention agent selected from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), anionic polyacrylamide (A-PAM), sodium polyacrylates, polyacrylic acid derivatives, guar gum, alginate, MFC prepared from carboxymethylated fibers, MFC prepared from oxidized fibers, MFC prepared by CMC-functionalized fibers, and/or combinations thereof; and iii) mechanically dewatering the first substrate. The present process provides an energy efficient coating process which can be performed online.

Abstract: A deep-drawn paper tray made of paper material, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the tray, and a closed product package comprising the tray. The tray having a bottom and upwardly expanding side walls around the bottom, the side walls of the tray being shaped to expand through a plurality of circumferential steps dimensioned low enough for obtaining wrinkle-free side walls for the tray. The outermost step is a flat, wrinkle-free rim flange, which enables liquid and gas proof heat-sealing of a lid to form the package. The apparatus may comprise upper and lower moulding tools with concentric movable frames for forming the tray bottom and side wall steps from paper blanks, and moulding tools may be mounted onto a rotating turret carrying a paper blank through working stations arranged along the turret circumference, to shape the tray bottom and the side wall steps at the consecutive stations.

Abstract: A method of deoxygenation of tall oil as well as methods for the production of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polymerizable monomers from tall oil. Sulphurous crude tall oil together with hydrogen gas is fed into a reactor comprising a catalyst bed. The oil is catalytically deoxygenated by hydrogen in the bed by use of a sulfided metal catalyst, e.g. a NiMoS catalyst. The flow exiting the reactor is cooled down and a hydrocarbon-bearing liquid phase is separated from a gas phase, followed by subjecting the liquid phase to distillation for removal of useless aromatic hydrocarbons and then to steam cracking to form a product containing olefins such as ethylene or propylene. By regulation of the deoxygenation temperature to be at least 270° C. but less than 360° C. the yield is rich in linear and cyclic aliphates that usefully turn to olefins in the steam cracking, while formation of napthalenes is reduced.