Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and compositions for reducing the deposition of pitches and stickies in a papermaking process. The method involves introducing an anionic glycerol-based polymer to the papermaking process. This anionic polymer prevents the pitches and stickies from depositing and agglomerating in papermaking processes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scleroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a liphohydrophilic glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a highly alkaline environment. In addition, it is more soluble in high pH than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scleroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina hydrate. The invention involves adding one or more polysaccharides to liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the production process. The one or more polysaccharides can be a cross-linked polysaccharide (such as cross-linked dextran or cross-linked dihydroxypropyl cellulose). The various polysaccharides can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of efficiently producing branched, cyclic glycerol-based polymer surface active products having ester and alkyl functional groups with a co-product as anti-biodegrading agent from inexpensive readily available glycerol monomer. The method involves polymerizing glycerol or glycerol with at least another monomer to multiple other monomers in the presence of particular amount of a strong base as the catalyst under a particular distillation environment. The polyol then undergoes esterification, alkylation and crosslinking in presence of particular amount of a catalyst under a particular low activity atmospheric environment. The glycerol-based polymer surface active products produced by the inventive method are beneficial for reducing lignin, extractives and rejects levels in pulping process of papermaking industry.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scieroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: A method of treating one or more hair shafts, each hair shaft including a cuticle layer and a cortex enclosed in the cuticle layer is disclosed. The method comprises: selecting one or more polymers that can penetrate the hair shafts with a pore size of about 5 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms; and treating the hair shafts by applying an effective amount of a composition containing said polymers to said hair shafts.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scieroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina hydrate. The invention involves adding one or more polysaccharides to liquor or slurry in the fluid circuit of the production process. The one or more polysaccharides can be a cross-linked polysaccharide (such as cross-linked dextran or cross-linked dihydroxypropyl cellulose). The various polysaccharides can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition of matter useful for producing very soft high grades of tissue paper. The composition of matter comprises an adhesive composition that includes a glycerol-based polyol. The glycerol-based polyol prevents the composition from becoming brittle and is non-volatile. This allows the composition to become rewetted after creping and allows for strong levels of adhesion even at high temperatures.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a liphohydrophilic glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a highly alkaline environment. In addition, it is more soluble in high pH than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition of matter useful for producing very soft high grades of tissue paper. The composition of matter comprises an adhesive composition that includes a glycerol-based polyol. The glycerol-based polyol prevents the composition from becoming brittle and is non-volatile. This allows the composition to become rewetted after creping and allows for strong levels of adhesion even at high temperatures.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of efficiently producing branched, cyclic glycerol-based polyols with a co-product as anti-biodegrading agent from inexpensive readily available glycerol monomer. The method involves polymerizing glycerol or glycerol with at least another monomer to multiple other monomers in the presence of particular amount of a strong base as the catalyst under a particular distillation environment. The polyol produced by the inventive method is beneficial of reducing scales in Bayer liquid for aluminum production process and improving brightness of coated paper substrates without greening effect.

Abstract: The invention provides a more effective optical brightener composition for coating paper substrates. The invention includes an optical brightening agent (OBA) and a glycerol based polymer. This combination results in a composition that provides a surprisingly large whitening effect and does not degrade the shade of the paper. As a result extremely high degrees of whiteness can be achieved without being frustrated by the greening effect.

Abstract: A method of treating one or more damaged hair shafts, each hair shaft including a cuticle layer and a cortex enclosed in the cuticle layer is disclosed. The method comprises: selecting one or more polymers that can penetrate the hair shafts with a pore size of about 5 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms; and treating the hair shafts by applying an effective amount of a composition containing said anionic polymers to said hair shafts.

Abstract: A method of treating one or more hair shafts, each hair shaft including a cuticle layer and a cortex enclosed in the cuticle layer is disclosed. The method comprises: selecting one or more polymers that can penetrate the hair shafts with a pore size of about 5 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms; and treating the hair shafts by applying an effective amount of a composition containing said polymers to said hair shafts.