Abstract: A solid lignocellulosic bioplastic can be formed from a biomass comprising an intertwined structure of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. The lignin in the biomass can be dissolved such that the cellulose is fibrillated. After the lignin dissolution and cellulose fibrillation, the lignin can be regenerated in situ. The regenerated lignin can be deposited on and can form hydrogen bonds between the fibrillated cellulose, so as to form a slurry of lignin-cellulose solids in solution. The slurry can then be dried to form the bioplastic. In some embodiments, the lignin is dissolved by immersing the biomass in a first chemical. The lignin can then be regenerated in situ by addition of a second chemical to the first chemical.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a material comprises a contiguous block of chemically-modified wood infiltrated with an index-matching polymer. The contiguous block has a first section that is substantially transparent to light and a second section that is translucent or opaque. The first section can have a lower lignin content than the second section. Alternatively, the first section can have a chromophore state altered from that of the wood in its natural state, and the lignin in the second section can retain a chromophore state of the wood in its natural state. In some embodiments, a material comprises a section of wood chemically-modified such that chromophores of lignin within the wood in its natural state are altered or removed, and the section retains at least 70% of the lignin of the wood in its natural state. Methods for forming such materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a carboxylated cellulose nanofiber and a preparation method thereof. The method includes: mixing choline chloride, citric acid and water at 60-100° C. for 15-60 min to obtain a hydrated multi-carboxylic acid deep eutectic solvent (H-DES); mixing the H-DES and cellulose for hydrolysis-esterification reaction at 120-130° C. for 2-3 h to obtain a carboxylated cellulose; and mixing the carboxylated cellulose and water for nano-fibrillation to obtain the carboxylated cellulose nanofiber.