Abstract: Described are methods of preparing a solid or semisolid material comprising nanocellulose (NC) elements, wherein the solid or semisolid material retains at least about 5 wt % water. The methods can comprise the steps of providing a liquid formulation comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements in a liquid medium, and at least one drying/dispersal additive, and partially drying the liquid formulation, thereby producing the solid or semisolid material. The present invention further provides solid or semisolid materials formed using the described methods.

Abstract: The invention includes simple NCE-based materials comprising a simple NCE-based matrix, wherein the simple NCE-based matrix comprises a population of redispersible NCEs treated with a drying/dispersal additive; wherein the matrix provides an architectural framework for the simple NCE-based material; and wherein the simple NCE-based material comprises a barrier formulation. The invention also includes composite NCE-containing materials comprising a composite NCE-containing matrix, wherein the composite NCE-containing matrix comprises a population of redispersible NCEs treated with a drying/dispersal additive and an existing matrix; wherein the redispersible NCEs are integrated into the existing matrix, and wherein the existing matrix provides an architectural framework for the composite NCE-containing material; and wherein the composite NCE-containing material comprises a barrier formulation.

Abstract: The invention includes simple NCE-based materials comprising a simple NCE-based matrix, wherein the simple NCE-based matrix comprises a population of redispersible NCEs treated with a drying/dispersal additive; wherein the matrix provides an architectural framework for the simple NCE-based material; and wherein the simple NCE-based material comprises a barrier formulation. The invention also includes foamed composite NCE-containing materials comprising a composite NCE-containing matrix, wherein the composite NCE-containing matrix comprises a population of redispersible NCEs treated with a drying/dispersal additive, and an existing matrix; wherein the NCEs are integrated into the existing matrix, and wherein the existing matrix provides an architectural framework for the composite NCE-containing material; wherein the composite NCE-containing material comprises a barrier formulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.

Abstract: The invention includes an orally ingestible delivery system for releasing a therapeutic agent within an intestine of a mammal, where the system includes the therapeutic agent and a differentially permeable capsule system containing the therapeutic agent within a therapeutic agent compartment, with the differentially permeable capsule system dimensionally adapted for oral ingestion and for passage into a stomach of the mammal and thence into the intestine, wherein the differentially permeable capsule system comprises an acid-resistant shell and a dispersible acid barrier, wherein the dispersible acid barrier forms while the orally-ingestible delivery system is in the stomach; and wherein the dispersible acid barrier is dispersed in the intestine, thereby permitting enzymes in the intestine to reach the therapeutic agent compartment. The invention also includes methods of manufacturing the system and methods for its use.

Abstract: The invention encompasses composite materials having a fibrous core that is at least partially covered by a water-swellable coating layer in which the water-swellable coating layer includes a water-swellable polymer. The invention also encompasses methods for manufacturing such a composite material, and further encompasses articles of manufacture made from such composite materials and methods for manufacturing such articles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are stability-enhanced formulations that comprise a therapeutic protein and a stability-improving amount of a stabilizing excipient, wherein the stabilized-enhanced formulation is characterized by an improved stability parameter in comparison to a control formulation otherwise identical to the stability-enhanced formulation but lacking the stabilizing excipient. Further disclosed herein are methods of improving stability of therapeutic formulations or improving parameters of protein-related processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides biodegradable absorbent materials comprising a cellulosic substrate material comprising a lignocellulose material, one or more water-swellable absorbent substances, and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of performance-improving additives, additives to produce specific functionalities, plasticizers, and surfactants; and also provides useful articles of manufacture incorporating such materials. The present invention further provides methods for producing such materials and methods for producing such useful articles of manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention includes surface-interactive utensils comprising a foamed material that includes a simple nanocellulose element (NCE)-based matrix comprising redispersed or redispersible NCEs or a composite NCE-containing matrix comprising redispersed or redispersible NCEs. The invention also includes methods of manufacturing such utensils.

Abstract: The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

Abstract: The present invention provides absorbent materials comprising a hydrogel-forming swellable polymer and a plasticizer, wherein the absorbent material demonstrates an advantageous performance characteristic such as advantageous fluid absorption capacity, fluid absorption rate, and rewetting, wherein the advantageous performance characteristic is within at least about 80% of a similar characteristic exhibited by a crosslinked polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer, or wherein the cumulative performance of the advantageous performance characteristics is comparable or superior to performance exhibited by the crosslinked polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer. The present invention also relates to articles of manufacture comprising such absorbent materials, and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods for forming organized hybrid carbon solids from a hydrocarbon precursor. The hybrid carbon solid can comprise a core-shell structure in which the shell is formed from elemental carbon, and the core comprises materials that are non-elemental-carbon materials.

Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods for forming organized carbon solids, such as high-structure carbon black, from a hydrocarbon precursor. These systems and methods comprise selection of feedstock for forming the carbon black and seeding the reaction chamber to enhance surface-promoted deposition of high quality carbon black solids.

Abstract: The invention includes a systems and methods for producing a gaseous outflow stream comprising chemical products and thermal energy, where the method includes providing a first reactant stream comprising CO2 and a second reactant stream comprising a hydrocarbon reactant, providing a plasma reactor equipped with a source of microwave energy for forming a non-thermal plasma; mixing the first reactant stream and the second reactant stream to form a feedgas mixture; directing the feedgas mixture to encounter microwave energy in the plasma reactor, wherein the microwave energy energizes the feedgas mixture to form the non-thermal plasma, thereby producing thermal energy and transforming the feedgas mixture in the non-thermal plasma into a product mixture comprising the chemical products; and directing the product mixture and the thermal energy to exit the plasma reactor, thereby forming the gaseous outflow stream comprising the chemical products and the thermal energy.