Abstract: A method for producing a stabilized lignin fiber from softwood alkaline lignin by heat treatment in the absence of oxidant is disclosed. The stabilized lignin fiber can be further treated to obtain carbon fiber.

Abstract: A method of preparing a composition comprising mycelium along with a cellulose and/or plurality of nanoparticles is described herein. The method comprises inoculating a liquid medium with fungus, the liquid medium comprising nutrients and the cellulose and/or nanoparticles. Further described herein are compositions comprising mycelium along with a cellulose and/or plurality of nanoparticles, as well as articles-of-manufacture comprising such a composition, wherein at least 10% of the cellulose and/or nanoparticles in the composition is incorporated within the mycelium. A method of enhancing fungal growth is also described, comprising contacting the fungus with a liquid medium comprising a polymer which comprises carboxylic acid groups.

Abstract: Process for the production of an organic acid from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process is integrated with a pulp mill and comprises: a) pre-treating a lignocellulosic feedstock with an alkaline liquor from the pulp, thereby obtaining a pretreated cellulosic feed and a black liquor; b) subjecting the pretreated cellulosic feed from step a) to enzymatic hydrolysis, thereby obtaining a saccharide feed; c) subjecting the saccharide feed from step b) to microbial fermentation using calcium oxide from the pulp mill as a neutralising agent, thereby obtaining an organic acid calcium salt; d) treating the organic acid calcium salt with sulfuric acid, thereby obtaining the organic acid; e) optionally isolating lignin from the black liquor obtained in step a), thereby obtaining lignin and weak black liquor; and f) returning the black liquor from step a) and/or the weak black liquor from step e) to the pulp mill chemical recovery process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to lignin-containing compositions comprising: 0 to 50 percent by weight of lignin; 0 to 50 percent by weight of a liquid C2-C4polyol; and 10 to 50 percent by weight of an acrylic resin; wherein the percentages by weight are expressed relative to the total dry weight of the composition, and wherein the total dry weight of the composition amounts to 100 percent. The present invention further relates to processes for sealing joints or coating surfaces using such a composition. Moreover, the present invention relates to joints sealed and surfaces coated using such a composition, as well as vehicles comprising such sealed joints and coated surfaces.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrode active coating on a current collector comprising providing isolated lignin and subjecting the isolated lignin to a pre-treatment in order to remove low molecular mass fractions of the lignin. The pre-treated lignin is mixed with an electrode active material, water and a conductive additive material so as obtain a slurry adapted for coating of a current collector. The coating obtained by the method comprises pre-treated lignin as a binder. The coating obtained has good binding properties between the particles of the coating as well as to the current collector. Furthermore, it has excellent electrochemical properties during use in a lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous, scalable and parallelizable method for preparing strong and stiff fibers (filaments) or films. The fiber or film is prepared by utilizing hydrodynamically induced alignment of the constituents of a dispersion in combination with surface-charge controlled gel transition to produce fibers with a high degree of alignment of the constituents (polymer(s), fibrils etc). The invention also relates to the fibers or films so formed.