Abstract: Processing of cellulose, and more particularly, fiber opening and downstream processing and chemistry are provided. A process includes moistening a cellulose sheet stock to a water content in a range from about 20% to about 50%, attriting the moistened cellulose sheet to a wet pulp, flash drying the wet pulp to a floccule of cellulose having a moisture content from about 4% to about 8%, and esterifying the floccule of cellulose to provide a cellulose ester product.

Abstract: Starch esters are made by: reacting a starch with an esterifying agent in the presence of a catalyst in a solvent for the starch ester, the esterifying agent including a mixture of at least two esterifying agents; or pre-treating a starch in a bath being free of an esterifying agent, and reacting the pre-treated starch with an esterifying agent in the presence of a catalyst. Articles are made by blending cellulose ester and starch ester, may be cross-linked, and may include internal plasticizers.

Abstract: Processing of cellulose, and more particularly, fiber opening and downstream processing and chemistry are provided. A process includes moistening a cellulose sheet stock to a water content in a range from about 20% to about 50%, attriting the moistened cellulose sheet to a wet pulp, flash drying the wet pulp to a floccule of cellulose having a moisture content from about 4% to about 8%, and esterifying the floccule of cellulose to provide a cellulose ester product.

Abstract: Starch esters are made by: reacting a starch with an esterifying agent in the presence of a catalyst in a solvent for the starch ester, the esterifying agent including a mixture of at least two esterifying agents; or pre-treating a starch in a bath being free of an esterifying agent, and reacting the pre-treated starch with an esterifying agent in the presence of a catalyst. Articles are made by blending cellulose ester and starch ester, may be cross-linked, and may include internal plasticizers.

Abstract: A method of making cellulose ester polymer comprises the steps of: pre-treating a cellulose source; esterifying the pretreated cellulose source to form a cellulose ester; and optionally hydrolyzing the cellulose ester. The pretreatment step further comprises: mixing, in a first stage, the cellulose source with a first solution of a weak acid and water, whereby the cellulose source being suspended in the first solution; de-liquefying the first stage suspension; mixing, in a second stage, the de-liquefied mass with a second solution of weak acid and water, whereby the mass being suspended in the second solution; and de-liquefying the second stage suspension.