Abstract: Disclosed herein are cross-linked lignin gels which have been found useful as pesticide carriers in controlled release pesticide systems. The carrier is a highly reswellable cross-linked lignin gel prepared by reacting alkali lignin with from 1 mole to 10 moles of cross-linking agent, such as formaldehyde, per 1,000 grams of lignin. An aqueous solution of lignin and the cross-linking agent is reacted at elevated temperatures until cross-linking occurs to the point where a discernible increase in viscosity takes place and the gel is formed. The gels are allowed to dehydrate, and the pesticide in an amount from 0.1:1.0 to 2:1 (pesticide to carrier) is included by reswelling the dehydrated gel in an aqueous solution of the pesticide.

Abstract: Stabilizing compositions comprising at least one triaryl phosphite, trialkyl phosphite or mixtures thereof and at least one modified lignin, the weight ratio of the phosphite to modified lignin is from 97/3 to 10/90. The modified lignins are produced by heat treating lignins in the presence of a nucleophile, such that a portion of the original guaiacyl structures are converted to catechols via a demethylation reaction. Elastomers may be protected against atmospheric degradation by the addition thereto of 0.01 to 5.0 parts by weight, preferably 0.25 to 2.0 parts, per 100 parts of elastomer of the stabilizing composition.

Abstract: The surfactants of this invention are phenolic-formaldehyde resins that have been sulfomethylated with from 1-13 moles of sulfomethylation per 1000 grams of the starting resin and further modified by reaction with up to 20 moles, preferably 0.25 to 10 moles, per 1000 grams of starting resin of a blocking agent of the type X(CHR).sub.m (CH.sub.2).sub.n Y, wherein X is a halogen, an activated double bond, epoxy ring or halohydrin, Y is a property group such as sulfonate, phosphonate, carboxylate or hydroxyl, R is another property group such as hydrogen, hydroxyl, mercaptan or amine, and n and m are integers from 0 to 5, with n or m being at least 1, to at least partially block the phenolic hydroxyl group of the resin. The phenolic-formaldehyde resin may also be cross-linked to tailor its molecular weight and then treated with urea or ammonia, if desired.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to composites of lignin and biologically active materials. The composites consist of a biologically active agent dispersed throughout an alkali lignin material in a ratio of .1:1 to 1:10 of the biologically active agent to alkali lignin. The biologically active agent is either entrapped by the lignin macromolecular matrix or held by physical-chemicalforces of van der Waal's, hydrogen bonding or ion association types. The active agent is slowly released on application either by diffusion through the lignin solid, or through degradation or dissolution of the lignin. The composites are obtained by a variety of processes including the coprecipitation-inclusion from an aqueous alkaline lignin solution by adding acid or salts, the drying of a precipitated lignin slurry biologically active agent dispersion, or the elimination of a common solvent from a lignin-biologically active organic agent mixture.