Abstract: The invention is an efficient method for preparing alkali cellulose having the low water content and a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for continuously preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to generate a contact mixture and then draining the contact mixture by a centrifugal separator. The invention also includes a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising a step of etherifying the alkali cellulose.

Abstract: A method of recovering a bead support from an emulsion includes supplying an aqueous surfactant solution into a centrifuge tube; supplying a hydrophobic liquid over the surfactant solution in the centrifuge tube, wherein a ratio of the volume of the aqueous surfactant solution to the volume of the hydrophobic liquid is not greater than 0.5; and applying an emulsion over the hydrophobic liquid while centrifuging, the emulsion comprising a dispersed aqueous phase including the bead support, the emulsion breaking and material of the dispersed phase preferentially partitioning to the surfactant solution.

Abstract: A process for dissolving modified cellulose is disclosed. The process includes contacting modified cellulose with a solvent in a mixture to form swelled modified cellulose and then contacting the mixture with a salt to dissolve the swelled modified cellulose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for grinding cellulose ether comprising the steps of: a) grinding a cellulose ether comprising 20 to 90 wt % of water, based on the total weight of cellulose ether and water, and a cationic surfactant in a mill; and b) optionally drying the mixture while grinding, prior to or following the step of grinding.

Abstract: A process for dissolving modified cellulose includes contacting modified cellulose solution with at least one multivalent cation to form a plurality of modified cellulose particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a polysaccharide derivative containing a structure wherein hydrogen atoms in a hydroxyl group at the 2-position and the 3-position of a structure unit of polysaccharide are substituted with different substituents respectively represented by a specific general formula and a separating agent for optical isomers which contains such a polysaccharide derivative. The present invention can provide a novel polysaccharide derivative which has excellent optical isomer separating ability, making it suitable as a separating agent for optical isomers, and can provide a separating agent for optical isomers which contains the polysaccharide derivative.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of viscose comprises the steps of: a) providing a non-dissolving pulp as a raw material; b) steeping the pulp in caustic solution; c) processing the steeped pulp; d) steeping the processed steeped pulp for a second time in caustic solution; and e) further processing the pulp from step d) to form a viscose solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new polymorphic form of inulin, designated delta inulin (dIN), to methods for the preparation of dIN, compositions comprising dIN and uses thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of dIN and compositions comprising dIN in the preparation of gamma inulin (gIN), compositions comprising gIN and uses thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether excellent in storage stability. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a water-soluble nonionic cellulose ether including an etherification step of reacting an alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent to obtain a crude cellulose ether, a washing step of washing the crude cellulose ether to obtain a washed cellulose ether, a drying step of drying the washed cellulose ether, and a grinding step of grinding the cellulose ether during or after the drying, wherein during the washing step or in any of the steps after the washing step, a pH regulator is mixed so as to allow an aqueous 2% by weight solution of the cellulose ether as an end product to have a pH value of from 7.0 to 10.5.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing cellulose ether whose aqueous solution is transparent and contains a smaller amount of water-insoluble portion. The method comprises at least the steps of: providing at least two alkali cellulose materials having different compositions, each of the materials having been prepared by bringing a pulp into contact with a solution of alkali metal hydroxide and draining; and mixing the at least two alkali cellulose materials having different compositions, wherein each weight ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide in each of the alkali cellulose materials having different compositions to a solid component in the pulp (alkali metal hydroxide/solid component in pulp) is equal to 0.4 to 2.5 times of a weight ratio of alkali metal hydroxide in the alkali cellulose obtained in the step of mixing to solid components in a sum of pulps used for preparation of the alkali cellulose materials.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the derivatization of cellulose comprising the sequential steps: a) mixing cellulose with a viscosity below 900 ml/g with an aqueous solution to obtain a liquid, wherein particles comprising cellulose in said liquid have a diameter of maximum 200 nm, wherein the temperature of the aqueous solution is below 20° C., and wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is above 12, b) subjecting the liquid to at least one of the steps: i) decreasing the pH of the liquid with at least 1 pH unit, ii) increasing the temperature by at least 20° C., and c) derivatization of the cellulose. Advantages include that there is provided the possibility to derivatize cellulose faster and to a greater extent after the treatment. Further the yield is improved. The product quality is improved and the manufacture is cheaper and easier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing an aqueous gel of nanofibrillar cellulose by removing water from the aqueous gel by means of an organic solvent miscible with water. In the method: aqueous gel is introduced into a volume of organic solvent miscible with water in a controlled manner so that the aqueous gel is kept as a separate phase and forms discrete physical entities containing the nanofibrillar cellulose within the phase; water is changed with the organic solvent in said discrete physical entities of nanofibrillar cellulose; and the physical entities are separated from the volume of organic solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of preparing acetylated cellulose ether, and acetylated cellulose ether prepared thereby. Here, the disclosed method of preparing the acetylated cellulose ether includes dissolving acetylated cellulose ether in an organic solvent to obtain a mixture comprising a solution of the acetylated cellulose ether; removing an insoluble component that is insoluble in the organic solvent from the mixture; and adding the mixture to water to precipitate the acetylated cellulose ether. The acetylated cellulose ether prepared thereby has a turbidity of less than 40 formazin turbidity units (FTU).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recovering pure cellulose from a cellulose-containing sludge, the process comprising treating a sludge cellulose source under conditions permitting dissolution of non-cellulose material and suspension of the cellulose, wherein said dissolution conditions do not alter cellulose morphology.

Abstract: Kits and compositions for producing an alginate gel are disclosed. The kits and compositions comprise soluble alginate and insoluble alginate/gelling ion particles. Methods for dispensing a self-gelling alginate dispersion are disclosed. The methods comprise forming a dispersion of insoluble alginate/gelling ion particles in a solution containing soluble alginate, and dispensing the dispersion whereby the dispersion forms an alginate gel matrix. The methods may include dispensing the dispersion into the body of an individual. An alginate gel having a thickness of greater than 5 mm and a homogenous alginate matrix network and homogenous alginate gels free of one or more of: sulfates citrates, phosphates, lactatates, EDTA or lipids are disclosed. Implantable devices comprising a homogenous alginate gel coating are disclosed. Methods of improving the viability of pancreatic islets, or other cellular aggregates or tissue, following isolation and during storage and transport are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polyaminoisoprenyl derivatives in antibiotic or antiseptic treatment of bacteria including those presenting multiple drug resistance (MDR), in particular as efflux pump inhibitors. It also relates to novel polyaminoisoprenyl derivatives, compositions comprising the same, process for preparing the same, and use thereof in antibiotic or antiseptic treatment.

Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids can be enhanced in the presence of a phenolic solvent. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids can comprise providing cellulosic biomass solids containing up to about 50% water by mass in a digestion medium comprising about 50% or more of an organic solvent by volume; heating the cellulosic biomass solids and the digestion medium in a digestion unit in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen, thereby forming an alcoholic component derived from the cellulosic biomass solids and liberating lignin therefrom; wherein the digestion medium and the water form a biphasic mixture in which the alcoholic component, slurry catalyst, and lignin are contained; removing at least a portion of the biphasic mixture from the digestion unit; converting at least a portion of the lignin into a phenolic solvent; and returning the phenolic solvent to the digestion unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for isolating sialic acid containing oligosaccharides and in particular sialyllactose from a milk stream and especially from a whey stream. The process yields a product having a high content of sialyllactose and a low content of phosphorus compounds. This product is highly suitable to be included in infant foods.

Abstract: A reaction product mixture is obtained from a reaction of (a) a cellulose ether with (b) an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid anhydride or with a di- or tricarboxylic acid anhydride or with a combination of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid anhydride and a di- or tricarboxylic acid anhydride in the presence of (c) an aliphatic carboxylic acid. A process for precipitating an esterified cellulose ether from this reaction product mixture comprises the step of contacting the reaction product mixture with water and subjecting the combination of water and the reaction product mixture to a shear rate of at least 800 s?1. The precipitated esterified cellulose ether can be recovered as a non-tacky product.

Abstract: A process for dissolving modified cellulose includes contacting modified cellulose solution with at least one non-solvent to form a plurality of modified cellulose particles.