Abstract: A soluble or crosslinked graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(2-methyl-3-oxo-4-oxyhex-1-ene-6-ol) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 150,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 1 to 300,000, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 1,000 to 30,000,000 for use as thickeners for water and aqueous solutions and may be advantageously used in the recovery of oil from subterranean wells, in the preparation of use of drilling fluid compositions, or in plastics and elastomers.

Abstract: A binder composed of a graft copolymer of high molecular weight sulfonated lignin material and an acrylic compound. At least 35% by weight of the lignin material has a molecular weight in excess of 5,000 daltons. The binder is produced by reacting the high molecular weight sulfonated lignin material with 0.0125 to 0.5 parts, per part of lignin material, of acrylic acid, methyacrylic acid or acrylonitrile. A process for making the binder is also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are used for reducing the permeability of high fluid permeability segments of underground strata, the compositions being injected into the high permeability segments in liquid form and there gelled to reduce the permeability of the segments. A first group of compositions has a pH of at least 4 and comprises a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract together with furfural, formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative. The second group of compositions comprises furfural and a gellable vegetable material which can be a tannin extract, a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract, a catechin, an alkaline extract of a coniferous bark or a lignin or sulfonated lignin derivative.

Abstract: Colored shapable polyesters having copolymerized therein lignin or lignin derivatives are prepared by condensing the lignin or lignin derivatives into the polyester backbone during the polymerization reaction. The lignin moieties are thermally stable at the polymer processing temperatures and are nonextractable from the polyester backbone. These colored, shapable polyesters are particularly suitable for use in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic container applications.

Abstract: Colored unsaturated polyesters having copolymerized therein lignin and lignin derivatives which condense during polymerization into the polyester chain are disclosed. The lignin moieties are thermally stable at the polymer processing temperature and are nonextractable from the polymer making these colored polyesters suitable for use in bathroom fixtures, boats, certain automotive applications and the like.

Abstract: A polymer material of the product of reaction of a grass plant lignin derivative comprising lignin polymer fragments recovered from black liquor obtained in the pulping of grass plant material and containing an average of more than 0.4 sites per phenyl propane unit of the polymer fragments reactive to base catalyzed substitution and condensation reactions, with an electrophilic compound which is capable of reacting twice at one side or at least once at each of two different sites.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the enhanced recovery of oil from an oil-bearing stratum having a zone of high fluid permeability through plugging of this zone by introducing into the stratum a gelable solution which, in the case of use under moderately high operating temperatures in the stratum, comprises a polyphenolic lignin extract, a formaldehyde source and sufficient alkaline material to give a solution having a pH of at least 9.0 and which, in the case of higher operating temperatures, comprises a lignosulfonate and a source of formaldehyde or tannin in aqueous solution.

Abstract: A water-soluble graft copolymer of lignin-(2-propenamide)-(sodium 2,2-dimethyl-3-imino-4-oxohex-5-ene-1-sulfonate) having a central lignin network and at least one grafted side chain, R, having randomly repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## such that the central lignin network has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to 100,000 and the total number of randomly repeating units in the grafted side chain or chains is in the range of 1,000 to 300,000, such that the total copolymer molecular weight is in the range of 40,000 to 30,000,000.The copolymers of the present invention are useful as thickeners for water and aqueous solutions and may be advantageously used in the recovery of oil from subterranean wells or in the preparation and use of drilling fluid compositions.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are used for reducing the permeability of high fluid permeability segments of underground strata, the compositions being injected into the high permeability segments in liquid form and there gelled to reduce the permeability of the segments. A first group of compositions has a pH of at least 4 and comprises a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract together with furfural, formaldehyde or a formaldehyde derivative. The second group of compositions comprises furfural and a gellable vegetable material which can be a tannin extract, a sulfited derivative of a tannin extract, a catechin, an alkaline extract of a coniferous bark or a lignin or sulfonated lignin derivative.

Abstract: A method of producing ammonium salts of sulfomethylated lignins suited for use as dyestuff and coal-water slurry additives comprising of the steps of ionizing the phenol component of a lignin material by-product of the black liquor of a kraft paper-making process in an alkaline liquid medium, methylolating the lignin material, lowering the pH of the liquid medium to an acid pH to precipitate the methylolated lignin material, washing the precipitated lignin material with water to remove inorganic salts and residual reactants therefrom, and sulfonating the washed, purified methylolated lignin material with an ammonium salt of a sulphur-oxygen containing compound in a liquid medium.The washed, purified methylolated lignin material is preferably sulfonated at an acid pH level to minimize the production of electrolytes when the lignin is to be used for dyeing at low pH. Lignin products produced by the method, as well as dye and coal-water slurry compositions containing such products are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a block copolymer useful in the preparation of polyurethanes. The polyether polycarbonate block copolymer comprises(a) the residue of a hydrocarbon or a hydrocarbyloxy hydrocarbon compound containing 3 or more functional groups with active hydrogens;(b) an alkylene polyether, polyamine, polyamide, polyaromatic carbonate, polyester, aromatic polyether, polyimide, polysulfide, polysulfone or polysaccharide block wherein such block is bonded to the residue of each active hydrogen-containing functional group; and(c) a polyether polycarbonate block which comprises ether and carbonate ether units arranged in random order, wherein the polyether polycarbonate blocks are bonded to the blocks defined in (b).

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer and methods for its preparation. The water soluble polymer is especially useful in that it exhibits superior thermal stability characteristics when used as an additive in aqueous drilling fluids. The polymer consists of a minor portion of tannin derived monomers and one or more acrylic monomers. Other monomers are added to enhance the functional characteristic of the polymer. The methods of this invention include either the mixing of monomer followed by polymerization of that mixture, or the preparation of a solution of the tannin monomers and polymerization medium followed by addition and polymerization of the comonomers at a controlled rate. Hydrolysis is an optional step in either method.

Abstract: A reaction product and process for making the same of a lignosulfonate with an unsaturated fatty amine of 18 to 20 carbon atoms and an aldehyde. The process includes forming an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate at a solids concentration of 20% to 40%, adjusting the pH of the solution to above 10 or below 5, mixing the solution with a specified quantity of fatty amine to form a homogeneous mixture, adding the aldehyde to the mixture, and finally heating the mixture at a temperature of 25.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. for a period of one to 24 hours.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates. According to the invention it is applied to the soil a graft polymer substantially free of monomer, having an intrinsic viscosity below 1dg/l and a molecular weight below 100,000. The graft polymer is obtained by the exothermic reaction of a water soluble lignosulfonate with a member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof. The graft polymers have been found to be also useful as binding reagents for agglomerating single particles of particulate materials.The graft polymers according to the invention are obtained in the form of an aqueous solution, which may be transformed into a powder by spray drying. As soil conditioners they may be applied by spraying, alone or admixed with fertilizers or pesticides and also combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a graft polymermodified cellulose pulp filler from cellulose sulfite pulp having an R.sub.18 value greater than 80%, which comprises adding to the pulp a redox initiator; washing the pulp with water having a pH below 5 in an amount sufficient to adjust the redox initiator cation content to within the range from about 5 to about 1000 ppm of cellulose sulfite pulp; adding hydrogen peroxide in an amount to provide within the range from about 0.1% to about 4% H.sub.2 O.sub.2 by weight of the sulfite pulp; and then reacting the pulp with at least one monomer having the formula: ##STR1## in which: R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; andR.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of nitrilo --CN, ##STR2## and COOR.sub.3 groups, wherein R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, isobutyl and 2-ethylhexyl; at a temperature at which grafting of the monomer onto the cellulose polymer molecule proceeds but below about 70.degree. C.

Abstract: A lignin product-containing binder and a process for its production are described.The lignin product consists of chlorolignin which has been treated with strong alkali (NaOH) for preferably 0.5-3 h. at 50.degree.-100.degree. C. and a pH of 10-13.5. The alkali-treated chlorolignin product can be used on its own as a binder component or, preferably, together with phenol-formaldehyde. The weight ratio phenol/lignin product is suitably from 4:1 to 1:4.