Abstract: Pulp sheets produced from Southern pine fibers are disclosed. Embodiments in which the fibers have a fiber length to coarseness ratio equal to or greater than 0.11, with fiber length (LWAFL) in mm and coarseness in mg/100 m, are found to impart stiffness properties to tissue grade handsheets made therefrom comparable to those achieved using of standard NBSK. Embodiments in which the fibers have a low coarseness (of from about 16 to about 20 mg/100 m, at a fiber length (LWAFL) of from about 1.6 to about 3.0 mm) are found to impart wicking properties to absorbent structures made therefrom that are improved relative to those achieved using standard high coarseness SBSK.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Pulp sheets produced from Southern pine fibers are disclosed. Embodiments in which the fibers have a fiber length to coarseness ratio equal to or greater than 0.11, with fiber length (LWAFL) in mm and coarseness in mg/100 m, are found to impart stiffness properties to tissue grade handsheets made therefrom comparable to those achieved using of standard NBSK. Embodiments in which the fibers have a low coarseness (of from about 16 to about 20 mg/100 m, at a fiber length (LWAFL) of from about 1.6 to about 3.0 mm) are found to impart wicking properties to absorbent structures made therefrom that are improved relative to those achieved using standard high coarseness SBSK.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Lignin in particulate form is provided. The lignin particles have relatively large diameter and relatively low density, compared to known lignin particles. The lignin is formed from black liquor using supersaturation of an ionic solution. Methods of forming the lignin particulate are also provided.

Abstract: A resin for OSB comprising an aqueous resole reaction product of phenol, formaldehyde, alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate, urea and a degraded lignin polymer having 35-65% solids, a pH of 8-13 and a viscosity 50-1000 centipoises. The phenol and formaldehyde are present in a molar ratio of 1.5 to 3.4 moles formaldehyde to 1 mole phenol and are 40 to 85% of the total solids added to the mixture. In one embodiment they are 50 to 75% of the total solids added to the mixture. The alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate are 5 to 20% of the total solids added to the mixture. Urea is 5 to 35% of the total solids added to the mixture. The degraded lignin is 5 to 20% of the total solids added to the mixture. A method for making the resin and a product using the resin.

Abstract: A resin for OSB comprising an aqueous resole reaction product of phenol, formaldehyde, alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate, urea and a degraded lignin polymer having 35-65% solids, a pH of 8-13 and a viscosity 50-1000 centipoises. The phenol and formaldehyde are present in a molar ratio of 1.5 to 3.4 moles formaldehyde to 1 mole phenol and are 40 to 85% of the total solids added to the mixture. In one embodiment they are 50 to 75% of the total solids added to the mixture. The alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate are 5 to 20% of the total solids added to the mixture. Urea is 5 to 35% of the total solids added to the mixture. The degraded lignin is 5 to 20% of the total solids added to the mixture. A method for making the resin and a product using the resin.

Abstract: A thermoplastic material made from lignin, polyol and a melting point reducer where the melting point reducer is miscible in the specific polyol employed and where the lignin, polyol and melting point reducer are all miscible when in their melted state.

Abstract: Artificial fire logs made from non-petrochemical based, renewable materials are described. These artificial fire logs perform substantially equivalent to existing commercial fire logs. The artificial fire logs are made from cellulosic materials, a lignin containing composition and a non-petroleum based wax where the lignin containing composition comprises lignin and 1,3-propanediol derived from a renewable resource.

Abstract: The barrier properties of a water soluble gas barrier material are improved if the material is blended with a nanoparticle calcium carbonate having a size of from 10 to 250 nanometers. The barrier material is on a substrate to provide a substrate with gas barrier properties. A layer of heat sealable material may be applied to the exposed surface of the barrier material. A method for making the barrier coated substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A resin for OSB comprising an aqueous resole reaction product of phenol, formaldehyde, alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate, urea and a degraded lignin polymer having 35-65% solids, a pH of 8-13 and a viscosity 50-1000 centipoises. The phenol and formaldehyde are present in a molar ratio of 1.5 to 3.4 moles formaldehyde to 1 mole phenol and are 40 to 85% of the total solids added to the mixture. In one embodiment they are 50 to 75% of the total solids added to the mixture. The alkaline metal hydroxide or carbonate are 5 to 20% of the total solids added to the mixture. Urea is 5 to 35% of the total solids added to the mixture. The degraded lignin is 5 to 20% of the total solids added to the mixture. A method for making the resin and a product using the resin.

Abstract: A high-yield paper sheet generally includes at least about 50 weight percent mechanical pulp, wherein the basis weight of the sheet is in the range of about 24 to about 60 pounds, and wherein the porosity of the sheet is in the range of about 40 to about 100 Sheffield porosity.

Abstract: A thermoplastic material made from lignin, polyol and a melting point reducer where the melting point reducer is miscible in the specific polyol employed and where the lignin, polyol and melting point reducer are all miscible when in their melted state.

Abstract: Artificial fire logs made from non-petrochemical based, renewable materials are described. These artificial fire logs perform substantially equivalent to existing commercial fire logs. The artificial fire logs are made from cellulosic materials, a lignin containing composition and a non-petroleum based wax where the lignin containing composition comprises lignin and 1,3-propanediol derived from a renewable resource.

Abstract: Blends of polyphenylene oxide-based polymers and lignin esters are described. These blends exhibit modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and elongation at break values that are substantially the same as or greater than the modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and elongation at break values for the polyphenylene oxide-based polymer alone. The blends provide compositions that have properties comparable to the polyphenylene oxide-based polymers, yet utilize less polymer.

Abstract: A method for dissolving cellulose in which the cellulose based raw material is admixed with a mixture of a dipolar aprotic intercrystalline swelling agent and an ionic liquid at a temperature of 25° C. to 180° C. for a time sufficient to dissolve the cellulose based raw material. The molar ratio of dipolar aprotic intercrystalline swelling agent to ionic liquid is 0.05 to 1.5 moles of dipolar aprotic intercrystalline swelling agent to 1 mole of ionic liquid. Dipolar aprotic intercrystalline swelling agents do not include imidazole based agents or amine based agents.