Abstract: A method of treating a solid lignocellulosic material (10) in which the solid lignocellulosic material (10) is subjected to a treatment, called a mechano-chemical treatment (1), of mixing and chemical degradation of the solid lignocellulosic material (10) so as to form an intermediate composition having a hydrated lignocellulosic material whose enzymatic digestibility is increased relative to the digestibility of the solid lignocellulosic starting material (10), then; the hydrated lignocellulosic material is subjected to a treatment, called a mechano-chemical treatment (2), in which a dispersion is formed, called an aqueous dispersion, of the hydrated lignocellulosic material (10) in an aqueous composition, the aqueous dispersion including at least one enzyme for degrading the hydrated lignocellulosic material (10).

Abstract: Fibers of annual plants e.g. straw for use in forming composite products are improved by hydrothermal treatment at 40° to 120 ° C. with or followed by high shear treatment. The process enables the use of annual plant fibrous materials not hitherto usable successfully.

Abstract: A method for improving the bondability of annual plant materials to a formaldehyde-based resin including the steps of: (a) providing a straw plant material having a plurality of fibers with each of the fibers surrounded by a waxy and silica layer; (b) extruding the straw plant material in a twin screw extruder while simultaneously subjecting the straw plant material to a thermal treatment with an aqueous solution containing a lignin modifying agent or steam, the thermal treatment being conducted at a temperature between about 40° C. and 120° C., the extruding subjecting the straw plant material to a sufficiently high shear force such that the extruding with simultaneous thermal treatment achieves a substantial defibration of the straw plant material with destruction of the waxy and silica layer and formation of individual fibers and (c) subjecting the treated material to heat and pressure in the presence of the formaldehyde-based resin to form a resin-bonded fiberboard or particleboard.

Abstract: A material formed from plant matter granules has the following size distribution, the percentages being expressed by weight of dry matter: between about 5 and 50% of the granules having a size of less than about 0.25 mm, between about 5 and 40% of the granules having a size of between about 0.25 and 0.5 mm, between about 15 and 60% of the granules having a size of between about 0.5 and 1 mm, between about 1 and 10% of the granules having a size of between about 1 and 1.25 mm, between about 0.5 and 7% of the granules having a size of between about 1.25 and 1.4 mm, between about 1 and 10% of the granules having a size of between about 1.4 and 1.7 mm, between about 0.1 and 10% of the granules having a size of between about 1.7 and 2.36 mm, and between about 0 and 10% of the granules having a size greater than about 2.36 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural consisting of bringing a hexose into contact with a catalytic support in the form of a solution of said hexose in a strongly polar aprotic solvent, particularly dimethylsulfoxide, the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural formed being extracted by means of a solvent for the latter also brought into contact with the catalytic support. All of the operations are carried out preferably continuously, particularly by the counter-current principle.