Abstract: Carboxylated pullulan obtained by oxidizing pullulan with an oxidizing agent is readily soluble in cold water and has favorable film-forming property, yielding a film having high mechanical strengths, high modulus of elasticity and good transparency.

Abstract: A sand mold composition for the metal casting comprising a molding sand and pullulan as a binder therefor. As compared with prior art, the present composition has following advantages: in the molding step, no gas, dust, noise, or vibration is generated; in the pouring and sand stripping steps, neither noxious gas nor offensive odor is emitted; although the mold has a sufficiently high strength at room temperature for the convenient handling, it is readily broken down after the casting and so renders the knock-out and sand stripping very easy; and the recovered sand can be reused as such, practically without any after-treatment. The molding cycle is comparable to that of conventional oil sand or carbon dioxide-bonded mold.

Abstract: When pullulan is used as a binder in coating seeds with inorganic materials, growth hormone preparations, etc., a satisfactory binding effect is obtained with smaller amounts than when conventional binders are used. The resulting inorganic coatings on the seeds are superior in surface hardness and disintegration characteristics in the soil after sowing. Germination of the seed and subsequent growth are not affected by pullulan. Chemically modified pullulan can also be used.

Abstract: A fertilizer composition manufactured by mixing a fertilizer or a fertilizing substance with pullulan or a derivative thereof, used as binder, and solidifying the mixture. The composition is easily shapable. Another advantage of pullulan over conventional binders is that the pullulan or its derivative which remains in the soil after application of the composition and dissolution of the fertilizer component is degraded by the action of water and soil microorganisms in the soil and, hence, will not hinder the growth of plants.

Abstract: A novel resin composition is obtained by blending a hydrophilic pullulan with 2 to 98 wt %, based on the total resin weight, of a hydrophobic thermoplastic resin.In case the amount of the thermoplastic resin is 2 to 50 wt %, there is obtained a resin composition consisting essentially of the pullulan which is excellent in water resistance, while in case the amount of the thermoplastic resin is 50 to 98 wt %, there is obtained a resin composition consisting essentially of the thermoplastic resin which has been improved in water and moisture absorptivity.

Abstract: A molded pullulan can be water-insolubilized by treatment with, as the combination of a crosslinking agent with a catalyst, at least one of the combinations of (1) formaldehyde with zinc chloride, (2) glyoxal with magnesium chloride, and (3) formaldehyde or glyoxal with hydrogen chloride gas or sulfurous acid gas.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprising pullulan and an ethylenic compound is obtained by polymerizing the ethylenic compound in the presence of pullulan and in the presence or absence of a solvent and a catalyst. The polymer compositions are novel composition which have the characteristics of the pullulan in combination with those of the ethylenic compound, and are useful as various industrial chemicals such as vehicles of paints and inks, organic pigments, paper- and fiber-treating agents, information-recording agents, adhesives, resins, packing materials, additives for concrete and mortar, impregnate materials for wood, cosmetics, etc.

Abstract: A multilayered molded plastic having at least one layer comprising pullulan. The molded plastic is low in gas permeability, transparent, high in strength and non-toxic.

Abstract: The surface of a molded pullulan type resin is coated with a thermosetting resin film, whereby a water-insoluble molded pullulan type resin can be obtained while retaining such excellent properties of the pullulan type resin as transparency, toughness, gas impermeability and pollution-freeness.

Abstract: A porous thermoplastic resin sheet is obtained by molding into a sheet a mixture comprising 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin and 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of a pullulan powder, and then immersing the resulting thermoplastic resin sheet in water to dissolve-out and remove the said pullulan powder.

Abstract: A foamed plastic of a resin composition comprising a pullulan type resin and a thermoplastic resin.When a resin composition comprising a pullulan type resin and a thermoplastic resin is foamed, the resulting foamed plastic is improved in moisture and water absorptivity which is low in the case of a foamed plastic composed of the thermoplastic resin, and in water resistance which is low in the case of a foamed plastic composed of the pullulan type resin.

Abstract: A resin-coated high pressure glass bottle prepared by forming a first layer with pullulan on the exterior surface of a high pressure glass bottle and then overcoating this first layer with a resin of high alkali resistance, e.g. an epoxy, urethane or ethyl cellulose resin.

Abstract: A cosmetic can be improved and enhanced in its effect when incorporated with pullulan, which is a linear high polymer having repetition units, bonded through .alpha.-1,6-linkages, of maltotriose, a trimer of glucose, and is represented by the formula, ##SPC1##Wherein n represents the polymerization degree and is an integer of 10 to 10,000.

Abstract: A molded foam can be easily obtained by blending pullulan, modified pullulan or a mixture thereof with a foaming agent capable of yielding a gas at below the decomposition temperature thereof, and, if necessary, with a plasticizer or softener, and then molding the resulting mixture according to a conventional thermoplastic resin-molding process at a temperature at which the said pullulan, modified pullulan or mixture thereof is in a plastified state, and at a temperature above the gas-yielding temperature of said foaming agent and below the decomposition temperature of said pullulan, modified pullulan or mixture thereof. The molded foam thus obtained is not only well comparable in mechanical, chemical and physical properties to molded foams composed of conventional thermoplastic synthetic resins, but also has such excellent characteristics that it can spontaneously be decomposed on standing outdoors, and hence can be easily discarded without any such fear as to cause environmental pollution.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of high polymer, characterized by using pullulan as a dispersant.The aqueous high polymer dispersion obtained by the above-mentioned process is not only high in stability but also so excellent in practical properties as to be usable for the processing of fibers or papers.