Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a foaming agent by preparing a liquid maltodextrin solution by dissolving maltodextrin in a solvent; combining the liquid maltodextrin solution with an octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) solution to form a biphasic maltodextrin-OSA mixture; agitating the biphasic maltodextrin-OSA mixture until homogenous creating a homogenous solution; adjusting the pH of the homogenous solution to a predetermined threshold to yield the foaming agent; and adding glycerol to the foaming agent to form a shelf stable foaming agent.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a composition for the dechlorination of water and improving the palatability of chlorinated water for livestock. In certain aspects, disclosed compositions comprise a pour point suppressant; a reducing agent; a weak base, and water. Further disclosed are method for dechlorinating chlorinated water comprising combing a dechlorinating solution with chlorinated water, wherein the dechlorinating solution comprises a pour point suppressant; a reducing agent; a weak base, and water.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, aqueous binder composition that includes a carbohydrate, a crosslinking agent, and a pre-reacted product of an alcohol or polyol and monomeric or polymeric polycarboxylic acid or polyglycerol is provided. The pre-reacted product may include glycerol and esters of citric acid such a monoglyceryl citrate, diglyceryl citrate, and triglyceryl citrate as well as other higher molecular weight citric acid-based esters. The inclusion of the pre-reacted product in the binder composition helps to speed the crosslinking reaction, induces faster water evaporation, decreases the viscosity of the binder, helps to reduce the amount of water needed for application of the binder, decreases tackiness, and helps to achieve a maximum vertical expansion of the insulation pack in the transfer zone. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven chopped strand mats.

Abstract: The disclosed method of reducing dust from livestock footing comprises preparing a liquid dedusting composition comprising a 1-dodecene homopolymer (PAO) and applying the composition to the livestock footing. In certain aspects, the dedusting composition has a kinematic viscosity of between about 4 centistokes and about 10 centistokes at 100° C. In further aspects, the composition is applied to the footing at a rate of between about 0.25% and about 1.5% (w/w). Further disclosed in a kit for dedusting livestock footing comprising a dedusting composition comprising 1-dodecene homopolymer (PAO) having a kinematic viscosity of between about 4 centistokes and about 10 centistokes at 100° C. and an applicator, configured and arranged to disperse the dedusting composition in the form of droplets between about 105 ?m VDM and about 665 ?m VDM.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, aqueous binder composition that includes a carbohydrate, a crosslinking agent, and a pre-reacted product of an alcohol or polyol and monomeric or polymeric polycarboxylic acid or polyglycerol is provided. The pre-reacted product may include glycerol and esters of citric acid such a monoglyceryl citrate, diglyceryl citrate, and triglyceryl citrate as well as other higher molecular weight citric acid-based esters. The inclusion of the pre-reacted product in the binder composition helps to speed the crosslinking reaction, induces faster water evaporation, decreases the viscosity of the binder, helps to reduce the amount of water needed for application of the binder, decreases tackiness, and helps to achieve a maximum vertical expansion of the insulation pack in the transfer zone. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven chopped strand mats.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, aqueous binder composition that includes a carbohydrate, a crosslinking agent, and a pre-reacted product of an alcohol or polyol and monomeric or polymeric polycarboxylic acid or polyglycerol is provided. The pre-reacted product may include glycerol and esters of citric acid such a monoglyceryl citrate, diglyceryl citrate, and triglyceryl citrate as well as other higher molecular weight citric acid-based esters. The inclusion of the pre-reacted product in the binder composition helps to speed the crosslinking reaction, induces faster water evaporation, decreases the viscosity of the binder, helps to reduce the amount of water needed for application of the binder, decreases tackiness, and helps to achieve a maximum vertical expansion of the insulation pack in the transfer zone. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven chopped strand mats.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing levulinic acid from fungal biomass are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for distilling levulinic acid from a glucosamine-containing feedstock is disclosed that yields a relatively pure (e.g., 90% or greater) levulinic acid product from an otherwise problematic waste stream.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a nanothin polymer film having a plurality of pores defined solely by polymers of the polymer film. The pores have a uniform size. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using a polymer film capsule with pores defined solely by the film described herein. The method includes: separating a mixture of chemicals having variable surface areas from the polymer film capsule by using a size exclusion column; collecting the polymer film capsule eluate from the size exclusion column; and determining a content of chemicals retained in the polymer film capsule by using UV/vis spectroscopy.

Abstract: A method of preparing nanothin polymer films having uniform and selectively sized pores utilizing pore forming templates. Lipids and pore forming templates are dissolved into a first solution. The solvent is removed thereby creating a lipid bilayer with pore forming templates dispersed throughout. The bilayer is hydrated and monomers and crosslinkers are added to create a second solution. A nanothin film with pore forming templates is created through polymerization of said second solution. The pore forming templates are dissolved into a third solution by addition of a chemical in which the pore forming template is soluble, but the lipid bilayer is insoluble. This third solution is separated from the mixture leaving a nanothin polymer film with pores of a uniform thickness and surface area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a composition for use in making a cured binder, the composition comprising: a first mixture comprising citric acid and an alkali metal hydroxide or an aqueous solution comprising the reaction products thereof; wherein the molar ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide to citric acid is between about 0.001:1 to 0.6:1, and wherein the pH of the first mixture is about 0.5 to about 2.5 when the first mixture is a 50% by weight citric acid aqueous solution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing levulinic acid from fungal biomass are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for distilling levulinic acid from a glucosamine-containing feedstock is disclosed that yields a relatively pure (e.g., 90% or greater) levulinic acid product from an otherwise problematic waste stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new monomer and methods of using the monomer to fabricate robust polymer surface coatings with controlled thicknesses between 1 and 5 nanometers. The coatings are composed of a new material containing polymerized monomers of 4-vinylbenzenepropanethiol. The polymer surface coating may be applied to metal and silicon. The method includes exposing a metal substrate to a solution of the monomer in hexanes in order to deposit a monolayer of the monomer onto the metal surface. The substrate is then irradiated with ultraviolet radiation in order to graft a thin polymer coating onto the surface. The procedure can be repeated in order to control the thickness of the coating between about 1 nm and 5 nm. Alternatively, thermally initiated polymerization or deposition of partially oligomerized monomers onto the surface provides nanothin coatings with identical performance.

Abstract: A method of preparing nanothin polymer films having uniform and selectively sized pores utilizing pore forming templates. Lipids and pore forming templates are dissolved into a first solution. The solvent is removed thereby creating a lipid bilayer with pore forming templates dispersed throughout. The bilayer is hydrated and monomers and crosslinkers are added to create a second solution. A nanothin film with pore forming templates is created through polymerization of said second solution. The pore forming templates are dissolved into a third solution by addition of a chemical in which the pore forming template is soluble, but the lipid bilayer is insoluble. This third solution is separated from the mixture leaving a nanothin polymer film with pores of a uniform thickness and surface area.

Abstract: A method of preparing nanothin polymer films having uniform and selectively sized pores utilizing pore forming templates. Lipids and pore forming templates are dissolved into a first solution. The solvent is removed thereby creating a lipid bilayer with pore forming templates dispersed throughout. The bilayer is hydrated and monomers and crosslinkers are added to create a second solution. A nanothin film with pore forming templates is created through polymerization of said second solution. The pore forming templates are dissolved into a third solution by addition of a chemical in which the pore forming template is soluble, but the lipid bilayer is insoluble. This third solution is separated from the mixture leaving a nanothin polymer film with pores of a uniform thickness and surface area.

Abstract: A method of preparing nanothin polymer films having uniform and selectively sized pores utilizing pore forming templates. Lipids and pore forming templates are dissolved into a first solution. The solvent is removed thereby creating a lipid bilayer with pore forming templates dispersed throughout. The bilayer is hydrated and monomers and crosslinkers are added to create a second solution. A nanothin film with pore forming templates is created through polymerization of said second solution. The pore forming templates are dissolved into a third solution by addition of a chemical in which the pore forming template is soluble, but the lipid bilayer is insoluble. This third solution is separated from the mixture leaving a nanothin polymer film with pores of a uniform thickness and surface area.