Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to epoxidized lignin prepolymers, related methods of making the prepolymers, cured epoxy resins formed from the prepolymers, articles including a coating of the cured epoxy resins, and related curing methods and compositions. The epoxidized lignin prepolymer has an epoxide functionality in a range of 2 to 8 and a high solubility in various common organic solvents. The high solubility permits incorporation of the epoxidized lignin prepolymer into an epoxy system which cures after addition of curing agents at high enough concentrations to allow replacement of conventional epoxide prepolymers at levels up to 100% replacement. Using other biobased materials in addition to lignin, for example biobased epichlorohydrin to epoxidize the lignin and a biobased hardener to cure the prepolymer, can provide a corresponding cured epoxy resin that is formed from completely biobased materials.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to encapsulated UV (ultraviolet) stabilizer/absorber nanoparticles, which nanoparticles limit or prevent the migration of UV stabilizers/absorbers to the surface of a coating in service and/or which otherwise preserve the UV-resistance properties of the UV stabilizer for a longer period once incorporated into a UV-protective coating. The nanoparticles each include a clay or other nanotube encapsulating body such as a halloysite nanotube (HNT) and a UV stabilizing material within the interior cylindrical volume of the nanotube encapsulating body. The UV stabilizing/absorbing material can include one or more of lignin, a biomass extractive, a phenolic biomass material, and an organic UV stabilizer. The encapsulated UV stabilizer nanoparticles can be incorporated into a polymer composite as a heterogeneous phase distributed throughout a continuous polymer matrix. The polymer composite can be applied as a coating or film to an underlying substrate to form a corresponding coated article.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to adhesive compositions, including non-crosslinked resins and crosslinked/cured adhesives joining substrates, as well as related methods for making the compositions and articles. Compared to a conventional phenol (P) and formaldehyde (F) resin, the disclosed methods and compositions use lignin (L), formaldehyde (F), and optionally higher aldehydes (A) as corresponding replacements to provide an analog to a conventional PF resin with biobased reactants. Due to the differing reactivity of the LF components compared to the PF components, the initial condensation reaction between ortho-reactive sites in the lignin and the aldehyde is controlled to prevent gelation of the aqueous reaction mixture while reacting substantially all of the LF reactants to provide a non-crosslinked resin reaction product. The resin reaction product can then be cured at high temperature/high pressure conditions to provide a crosslinked adhesive, for example joining two substrates.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for forming oxyalkylated lignin polyols as well as related polyols and polymers. In the various methods, an initial reaction mixture including a cyclic alkyl carbonate and a wet lignin is heated in the absence of an oxyalkylation catalyst to remove at least a portion of the water from the reaction mixture. An oxyalkylation catalyst is added to the resulting dehydrated reaction mixture, which is then heated to perform an oxyalkylation reaction between the cyclic alkyl carbonate with the lignin, thereby forming an oxyalkylated lignin polyol reaction product. The oxyalkylated lignin polyol can be subsequently reacted with a polyisocyanate or a polyacid compound to form a corresponding polyurethane or polyester polymer, respectively. The disclosure further relates to the oxyalkylated lignin polyols and corresponding polymers formed therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to adhesive compositions, including non-crosslinked resins and crosslinked/cured adhesives joining substrates, as well as related methods for making the compositions and articles. Compared to a conventional phenol (P) and formaldehyde (F) resin, the disclosed methods and compositions use lignin (L), formaldehyde (F), and optionally higher aldehydes (A) as corresponding replacements to provide an analog to a conventional PF resin with biobased reactants. Due to the differing reactivity of the LF components compared to the PF components, the initial condensation reaction between ortho-reactive sites in the lignin and the aldehyde is controlled to prevent gelation of the aqueous reaction mixture while reacting substantially all of the LF reactants to provide a non-crosslinked resin reaction product. The resin reaction product can then be cured at high temperature/high pressure conditions to provide a crosslinked adhesive, for example joining two substrates.

Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.

Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to adhesive compositions, including non-crosslinked resins and crosslinked/cured adhesives joining substrates, as well as related methods for making the compositions and articles. Compared to a conventional phenol (P) and formaldehyde (F) resin, the disclosed methods and compositions use lignin (L) and higher aldehydes (A) as corresponding replacements to provide an analog to a conventional PF resin with biobased reactants. Due to the differing reactivity of the LA components compared to the PF components, the initial condensation reaction between ortho-reactive sites in the lignin and the aldehyde is controlled to prevent gelation of the aqueous reaction mixture while reacting substantially all of the LA reactants to provide a non-crosslinked resin reaction product. The resin reaction product can then be cured at high temperature/high pressure conditions to provide a crosslinked adhesive, for example joining two substrates.

Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to encapsulated UV (ultraviolet) stabilizer/absorber nanoparticles, which nanoparticles limit or prevent the migration of UV stabilizers/absorbers to the surface of a coating in service and/or which otherwise preserve the UV-resistance properties of the UV stabilizer for a longer period once incorporated into a UV-protective coating. The nanoparticles each include a clay or other nanotube encapsulating body such as a halloysite nanotube (HNT) and a UV stabilizing material within the interior cylindrical volume of the nanotube encapsulating body. The UV stabilizing/absorbing material can include one or more of lignin, a biomass extractive, a phenolic biomass material, and an organic UV stabilizer. The encapsulated UV stabilizer nanoparticles can be incorporated into a polymer composite as a heterogeneous phase distributed throughout a continuous polymer matrix. The polymer composite can be applied as a coating or film to an underlying substrate to form a corresponding coated article.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a polyurethane prepolymer and corresponding crosslinked network polymer incorporating lignin as a natural polyol in the polyurethane system. The polyurethane prepolymer includes a reaction product between an isocyanate, lignin, and a cyclic alkyl carbonate. The reaction product includes (i) free isocyanate groups and/or free hydroxyl groups, (ii) urethane linking groups between residues of lignin aliphatic hydroxyl groups and the isocyanate, (iii) ester linking groups between residues of lignin aromatic hydroxyl groups and a ring-opened form of the cyclic alkyl carbonate, and (iv) optionally urethane linking groups between residues of the ring-opened cyclic alkyl carbonate and the isocyanate. The polyurethane polymer can be a networked, crosslinked polymerization product of the prepolymer reaction product, for example in combination with a lignin curing agent. The polyurethane polymer can be used as a coating on a substrate, an adhesive joining multiple substrates, etc.

Abstract: The disclosed articles, apparatus, methods, and compositions provide for the integration of different and environmentally-friendly processes for extraction, stabilization, and formulation of active compounds with health and/or other benefits from lignocellulosic by-products of food processes. The active compounds can include one or more of polyphenols, flavonoids, o-diphenols, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids. A high-pressure, high-temperature extraction process provides a means to recover a substantial portion of the active compounds from a biomass feedstock. The corresponding extract can be encapsulated, which provides a convenient form for stabilization and delivery of the active compounds into a final product, for example an active packaging material or corresponding actively packaged food item.