Abstract: In this disclosure, there are provided materials which completely degrade in the environment far more rapidly than pure synthetic plastics but which possesses the desirable properties of a thermoplastic: strength, impact resistance, stability to aqueous acid or base, and deformation at higher temperatures. There is provided a method for using the degradable plastic materials in preparing strong, moldable solids. There is further provided a method of making and applications for macromolecular, surface active agents that change the wetting behavior of lignin-containing materials. These surface active agents are used to provide a method of making and applications for synthetic polymers coupled to pieces of a vascular plant using macromolecular surface active agents.

Abstract: In this disclosure, there are provided materials which completely degrade in the environment far more rapidly than pure synthetic plastics but which possesses the desirable properties of a thermoplastic: strength, impact resistance, stability to aqueous acid or base, and deformation at higher temperatures. There is provided a method for using the degradable plastic materials in preparing strong, moldable solids. There is further provided a method of making and applications for macromolecular, surface active agents that change the wetting behavior of lignin-containing materials. These surface active agents are used to provide a method of making and applications for synthetic polymers coupled to pieces of a vascular plant using macromolecular surface active agents.

Abstract: In this disclosure, there are provided materials which completely degrade in the environment far more rapidly than pure synthetic plastics but which possesses the desirable properties of a thermoplastic: strength, impact resistance, stability to aqueous acid or base, and deformation at higher temperatures. There is provided a method for using the degradable plastic materials in preparing strong, moldable solids. There is further provided a method of making and applications for macromolecular, surface active agents that change the wetting behavior of lignin-containing materials. These surface active agents are used to provide a method of making and applications for synthetic polymers coupled to pieces of a vascular plant using macromolecular surface active agents.

Abstract: A process for making a water-insoluble, graft copolymer of lignite-(ethene or substituted ethene monomer) having a central lignite network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having "m" repeating units of (1-phenylethylene), 1-methyl-1-(1-oxo-2-oxypropyl)ethylene, a polymerized 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxybut-1-ene-(p-ethoxy-(3*p+3)-ol), or any other substituted ethene monomer which has a dipole moment of less than 1.2 or a water solubility of less than 5 g/100 g water at 30.degree. C. The ethene monomer forms the sidechain by free radical polymerization and, in the sidechain, m and p vary from 1 to 300,000 such that the central lignite network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 1,500,000; the total number of random units in a grafted side chain is in the range of 1 to 300,000 units; and the total number of sidechains attached to lignite, x, is in the range of 1 to 500; such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,500 to 30,000,000.

Abstract: A graft copolymer of a vascular plant having a biologically produced part that is the plant or a component thereof and at least one sidechain, Sc, having randomly repeat unit, R.sub.ru, wherein R.sub.ru are formed by the polymerization of at least one substituted ethene polymerable by free radical polymerization. The sidechain repeat unit, R.sup.ru, has the structure ##STR1## such that the side groups, R.sub.i where i=1 to 4, on the sidechain are selected from the group of alkanes, alkenes, amides, alcohols, alkoxides, aromatics, cycloalkanes, esters, halogens, hydrogen, phenols, and nitrile groups and such groups further substituted with one or more groups. The side groups on the sidechain may vary from one repeat unit to another. The number of sidechains on the woody plant fragment can vary from 1 to 500 and the number of repeat units in each sidechain can vary from 1 to 500,000.

Abstract: In this disclosure, there are provided materials which completely degrade in the environment far more rapidly than pure synthetic plastics but which possesses the desirable properties of a thermoplastic: strength, impact resistance, stability to aqueous acid or base, and deformation at higher temperatures. There is provided a method for using the degradable plastic materials in preparing strong, moldable solids. There is further provided a method of making and applications for macromolecular, surface active agents that change the wetting behavior of lignin-containing materials. These surface active agents are used to provide a method of making and applications for synthetic polymers coupled to pieces of a vascular plant using macromolecular surface active agents.

Abstract: A process for making a water-insoluble, graft copolymer of lignite-(ethene or substituted ethene monomer) having a central lignite network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having "m" repeating units of (1-phenylethylene), 1-methyl-1-(1-oxo-2-oxypropyl)ethylene, a polymerized 2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxybut-1-ene-(p-ethoxy-(3*p+3)-ol, or any other substituted ethene monomer which has a dipole moment of less than 1.2 or a water solubility of less than 5 g/100 g water at 30.degree. C. The ethene monomer forms the sidechain by free radical polymerization and, in the sidechain, m and p vary from 1 to 300,000 such that the central lignite network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 1,500,000; the total number of random units in a grafted side chain is in the range of 1 to 300,000 units; and the total number of sidechains attached to lignite, x, is in the range of 1 to 500; such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,500 to 30,000,000.

Abstract: A soluble, solid, or crosslinked graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxybut-1-ene-(p-ethoxy-(3*p+3)-ol ) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000; the number of ethoxyl repeat units, p, in the polyol repeat unit is between 1 and 300,000; and the total number of random units in the grafted side chain, n+m, or chains, x*(n+m), is in the range of 1 to 300,000 units, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 300,000,000.The copolymers of the present invention are useful as 1) thickeners for water and aqueous solutions or 2) plastics and elastomers.

Abstract: The invention provides a series of methods for synthesizing a lignin graft copolymer or modifying the surface of a wood fiber or pulp and to provide a spectrum of reagents to use in the processes for preparing the lignin graft copolymer, grafted wood, grafted wood fiber, or grafted pulp and to provide a method of boosting or enhancing polymer molecular weights during polymerization reactions.

Abstract: A soluble or crosslinked graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 1 to 300,000, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 30,000,000 for use as thickeners for water and aqueous solutions and may be advantageously used in the recovery of oil from subterranean wells, in the preparation and use of drilling fluid compositions, or in plastics and elastomers.

Abstract: A soluble, solid, or crosslinked graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxybut-1-ene-(p-ethoxy-(3*p +3)-ol) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000; the number of ethoxyl repeat units, p, in the polyol repeat unit is between 1 and 300,000; and the total number of random units in the grafted side chain, n+m, or chains, x*(n+m), is in the range of 1 to 300,000 units, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 300,000,000.The copolymers of the present invention are useful as 1) thickeners for water and aqueous solutions or 2) plastics and elastomers.

Abstract: A soluble or crosslinked graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 1 to 300,000, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 30,000,000 for use as thickeners for water and aqueous solutions and may be advantageously used in the recovery of oil from subterranean wells, in the preparation and use of drilling fluid compositions, or in plastics and elastomers.

Abstract: A water-soluble graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-N7,N7-dimethyl-7-ammonium-3-oxo-4-oxyoct- 1-e ne chloride or methylsulfate) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repreating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 50 to 300,000 such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 15,000 to 30,000,000.

Abstract: A water-soluble graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-N7,N7-dimethyl-7-ammonium-3-oxo-4-oxyoct- 1-ene chloride or methylsulfate) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 50 to 300,000 such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 15,000 to 30,000,000.

Abstract: A water-soluble graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(4n,4n-dimethyl-4-ammoniumhept-1,6-diene chloride) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formulas: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 5 to 300,000 such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 30,000,000.

Abstract: A soluble or crosslinked graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 1 to 300,000, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 30,000,000 for use as thickeners for water and aqueous solutions and may be advantageously used in the recovery of oil from subterranean wells, in the preparation of use of drilling fluid compositions, or in plastics and elastomers.

Abstract: A water-soluble graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(sodium 2,2-dimethyl-3-imino-4-oxohex-5-ene-1-sulfonate) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 100,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 1,000 to 300,000, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 40,000 to 30,000,000.The copolymers of the present invention are useful as thickeners for water and aqueous solutions and may be advantageously used in the recovery of oil from subterranean wells or in the preparation and use of drilling fluid compositions.

Abstract: Graft copolymers having starch as the central chain with grafted side chains of acrylamide or acrylamide-acrylic acid, and a process for preparation of such copolymers in the presence of Ce.sup.+4 or other redox initiators. These copolymers are employed in preparing highly viscous aqueous solutions that are particularly useful in oil recovery from subterranean wells.

Abstract: Ethoxylated sulfosuccinate derivatives, e.g., diesters and half-esters of alpha-sulfosuccinic acid and ethoxylated alcohols are added as phase stabilizing agents to aqueous saline solutions of petroleum sulfonates to substantially prevent or to eliminate phase separation and/or precipitation of surfactant and/or cosurfactant in such solutions on contacting them with hard brines containing high concentrations of divalent ions such as CA.sup.++ and Mg.sup.++.

Abstract: Large pore volume (.gtoreq.1.4 cc/g) silica is obtained by slowly drying an acidic (pH .ltoreq.3.5) silica hydrogel. The gel is useful in connection with chromium as an ethylene polymerization catalyst.