Abstract: A polymer composition containing cellulose acetate in combination with one or more bloom resistant or bio-based plasticizers and optionally one or more bio-based polymers is described. The polymer composition is formulated so as to have properties similar to petroleum-based polymers for producing, for example, single-use biodegradable articles.

Abstract: The present invention describes tunable methods of treating cellulosic materials with a composition that provides increased hydrophobicity and/or lipophobicity to such materials without sacrificing the biodegradability thereof. The methods as disclosed provide for binding of saccharide fatty acid esters on cellulosic materials, including that the disclosure provides products made by such methods. The materials thus treated display higher hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, barrier function, and mechanical properties, and may be used in any application where such features are desired.

Abstract: An antifogging film includes a film base and a saponified layer. The film base is formed of cellulose triacetate as cellulose acylate. The saponified layer is provided on a first base surface of the film base and serves as a first film surface of the antifogging film. The saponified layer contains saponified cellulose triacetate. The antifogging film is configured such that the first film surface has a contact angle of 20° or less 15 seconds after dropping of pure water thereto. In a case where the amount of acyl groups of the first film surface is X and the amount of acyl groups of a second base surface is Y, an acyl group ratio obtained by X/Y is 0.7 or less.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a polymer for enhancing drug performance and improving processability. Specifically, the polymer comprises hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMC-AS). On the HPMC-AS, the percentage of total succinoyl degree of substitution is less than 12% at C6-OH position and greater than 53% at C3-OH, and the percentage of total acetyl degree of substitution is greater than 32% at C6-OH position.

Abstract: A resin composition includes a cellulose ester resin having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 75,000; sulfuric acid; and at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Group 1 elements and Group 2 elements, wherein a ratio of the sum of the content [M1] of the Group 1 element and the content [M2] of the Group 2 element to the total amount of all the elements according to fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy is 0.052% by weight, and a molar ratio of the content [M1] of the Group 1 element, the content [M2] of the Group 2 element, and the content [S] of sulfur atoms (S) according to fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy satisfies a relationship of Expression 1: ([M1]/2)+[M2]?1.5×[S].

Abstract: Provided are an optical film using a cellulose derivative, useful in an image display device, such as a liquid crystal display or the like, a retardation film and a polarization film using the optical film, and a liquid crystal display having excellent view angle characteristics by using these films, while the optical film uses a cellulose derivative resin in which some hydrogen atoms of hydroxy groups of cellulose are substituted with three or more kinds of substituents.

Abstract: Provided are an optical film using a cellulose derivative, useful in an image display device, such as a liquid crystal display or the like, a retardation film and a polarization film using the optical film, and a liquid crystal display having excellent view angle characteristics by using these films, while the optical film uses a cellulose derivative resin in which some hydrogen atoms of hydroxy groups of cellulose are substituted with three or more kinds of substituents.

Abstract: This invention relates a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate and processes to produce the cellulose solution. Another aspect of this invention relates to shaped articles prepared from a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. Another embodiment of this invention relates to compositions comprising derivatives of cellulose prepared from a cellulose solution comprising at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. Another embodiment of this invention relates to compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters prepared from a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. In another embodiment of the invention, the cellulose esters of the present invention are used as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.

Abstract: The present inventions relate to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). These films are useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films and in molded optical parts, such as lenses. The resins of the present inventions can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, which is uncharacteristic of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods of melt casting films while minimizing birefringence. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to films made from the cellulose esters described herein further comprising a plasticizer.

Abstract: Methods for integrating the production of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) from cellulose are provided. The methods use milder acid hydrolysis conditions than those for maximal CNC production to achieve reduced degradation of cellulose into soluble sugars. Also provided are negatively charged cellulosic solid residues (CSRs) in the form of cellulose fibers (CF) and/or cellulose microfibrils (CMF) during the acid hydrolysis, as well as CNFs fabricated from the CSRs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose esters having low hydroxyl content for use in optical applications, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) films. Films made with low hydroxyl levels and a given ratio of non-acetyl ester to hydroxyl level have been found to have low intrinsic birefringence. These films can be cast, molded, or otherwise oriented without an appreciable birefringence or optical distortion (i.e. retardation). Such features make these films useful in polarizer, protective, and compensator films as well as molded optical parts, such as lenses. Furthermore, it has also been found that resins of the present invention can also be made to have “+C plate” behavior either by melt or solvent based processing, a characteristic which is not typical of cellulose esters. Such +C behavior allows films to be produced having unique compensatory behavior. Other embodiments of the invention relate to methods melt casting films while minimizing birefringence formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous cellulose gel having a high mechanical strength capable of being operated at a higher flow rate, and a method for producing the same. To a suspension liquid of cellulose particles, a crosslinking agent in an amount of from 4 to 12 times the amount of the cellulose monomer in terms of moles and an alkali in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.5 times the amount of the crosslinking agent in terms of moles are added continuously dropwise or added dividedly over a prescribed period of time, whereby flow rate characteristics of a resulting porous cellulose gel can be enhanced. According to the invention, the production efficiency of a polymer substance, such as a nucleic acid and a protein can be enhanced.

Abstract: There is provided an optical film having a small size change with a temperature change of a support of a pattern retardation film. An optical film includes: a support comprising a polymer having a moisture absorptivity of 0.5% or more; a first retardation region and a second retardation region, in which birefringence thereof is mutually different; and an optically anisotropic layer in which the first retardation region and the second retardation region are alternately patterned for every one line.

Abstract: A cellulose resin produced by binding cellulose or a derivative thereof and cardanol or a derivative thereof by using a hydroxy group of the cellulose or a derivative thereof and a hydroxy group of the cardanol or a derivative thereof, in which carbon atoms to which the hydroxy groups are bound are mutually linked via a carbonate bond or urethane bond formed by using the hydroxy groups.

Abstract: A cellulose resin produced by binding cardanol or a derivative thereof, and a flexible component to cellulose or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Methods for integrating the production of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) from cellulose are provided. The methods use milder acid hydrolysis conditions than those for maximal CNC production to achieve reduced degradation of cellulose into soluble sugars. Also provided are negatively charged cellulosic solid residues (CSRs) in the form of cellulose fibers (CF) and/or cellulose microfibrils (CMF) during the acid hydrolysis, as well as CNFs fabricated from the CSRs.

Abstract: This invention relates a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate and processes to produce the cellulose solution. Another aspect of this invention relates to shaped articles prepared from a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. Another embodiment of this invention relates to compositions comprising derivatives of cellulose prepared from a cellulose solution comprising at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. Another embodiment of this invention relates to compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters prepared from a cellulose solution comprising cellulose and at least one tetraalkylammonium alkylphosphate. In another embodiment of the invention, the cellulose esters of the present invention are used as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters. One aspect of the invention relates to processes for preparing regioselectively substituted cellulose esters from cellulose dissolved in ionic liquids. Another aspect of the invention relates to the utility of regioselectively substituted cellulose esters in applications such as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.

Abstract: A refinish coating composition is provided comprising: a) at least one refinish coating resin; b) at least one solvent; c) at least one pigment; d) optionally, at least one crosslinking agent; e) at least one cellulose mixed ester having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) greater than 10,000 and f) at least one low molecular weight cellulose mixed ester. In addition, processes for coating the refinish coating composition on a substrate are also provided.

Abstract: A process for adjusting an intermolecular or intramolecular degree of acetyl substitution of cellulose acetate is disclosed. The process comprises ripening cellulose acetate in the presence of a catalyst, an acetyl donor, and water or an alcohol. The amount of water and the alcohol is in the range of 0.1 to 10 mol % based on the amount of the acetyl donor.

Abstract: A method for utilizing biomass components, namely cellulose, hemicellose, and lignin, and converting them to value-added biobased chemical products is described herein. The present method provides treatments to obtain a plurality of component streams from biomass for producing derivative products while minimizing waste products.

Abstract: A method for adhering a medical device to biological tissue includes adhering an adhesive composition having a plurality of reactive members of a specific binding pair to tissue which has a plurality of complementary reactive members of the specific binding pair via click chemistry.

Abstract: A cellulose ester film has: a ratio of a sound velocity in a width direction to a sound velocity in a longitudinal direction of from 0.9 to 1.1; a moist heat dimensional change rate in the width direction of from ?0.2% to 0.2%, the moist heat dimensional change being one after the cellulose ester film is left standing at 60° C. and 90% RH for 24 hours; and a humidity dimensional change rate in the width direction of 0.38% or less.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of manufacturing an eye lens material having a process in which a phosphorylcholine group-containing chemical compound represented by the following formula (1) is reacted and covalently bonded to the surface of an eye lens material having hydroxyl groups wherein the chemical compound represented by the following formula (2) is reacted and covalently bonded through ester-bonding to the eye lens material in an organic solvent. The object of the present invention is to provide an eye lens material that prevents protein adsorption and a method of manufacturing thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot melt adhesive, comprising at least one polysaccharide ester gained by a reaction of a polysaccharide with an imidazolide in melted imidazole. The invention relates, further, to a process for producing the hot melt adhesive, in which imidazole is melted, and an acid chloride and/or an acid anhydride and/or a lactone is reacted in and with the melted imidazole to form an imidazolide, whereby at least one polysaccharide is added to the melted imidazole, whereby the polysaccharide is reacted with the imidazolide to form a polysaccharide ester.

Abstract: Described herein are implantable medical devices comprising a biocompatible polymer comprising a triggerable bioadhesive property that allows the device to adhere to body tissue. The triggerable bioadhesive property of the polymer can be triggered or activated by exposure to a stimulus. Also, the present invention pertains to methods of making an implantable medical device comprising a biocompatible polymer comprising a triggerable bioadhesive property that allows the device to adhere to body tissue.

Abstract: Process for esterifying, etherifying or silylating polysaccharide or derivatives thereof by means of an esterifying reagent, etherifying reagent or silylating reagent in the presence of an ionic liquid, in which (a) the process is carried out under heterogeneous reaction conditions, and (b) the amount of ionic liquid is 2% to 25% by weight, based on the polysaccharide or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A cellulose-film modifier, having a compound represented by the following Formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic acyl group; R2, R3 and R4 each represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic group; and at least one of R2, R3 and R4 represents an aliphatic group bonding via its secondary carbon; a cellulose composition, an optical cellulose film, a polarizing plate-protecting film, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A method for bonding a polymeric fiber to tissue is provided which includes providing a polymeric fiber having a plurality of tissue reactive members linked to a surface of the fiber via a specific binding pair, and contacting the polymeric fiber to biological tissue, to covalently bond the fiber to the tissue.

Abstract: Ionic liquids and cellulose ester compositions and processes for producing ionic liquids and cellulose esters. Cellulose esters can be produced by esterifying cellulose in a reaction medium comprising one or more halide ionic liquids and at least one binary component. Cellulose esters prepared via the methods of the present invention can have a degree of substitution (“DS”) of at least 1.5 and can comprise a plurality of ester substituents, where at least 50 percent of the ester substituents comprise alkyl esters having a carbon chain length of at least 6 carbons.

Abstract: An annular fluid or packer fluid, and methods of making the same, that includes a water-miscible solvent, a viscosifying additive, a crosslinking agent, a crosslinking inhibitor having the facility to inhibit crosslinking between the viscosifying additive and the crosslinking agent, and an initiating agent having the facility to overcome an action of the crosslinking inhibitor and to initiate crosslinking between the viscosifying additive and the crosslinking agent, is shown and described. The fluid has a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.25 btu/(hr·ft·° F.) and a potential to substantially increase its viscosity upon sitting for a selected period of time.

Abstract: Cellulose mixed esters are disclosed having low molecular weights and low degrees of polymerization. These new cellulose mixed esters include cellulose acetate propionate and cellulose acetate butyrate. The esters exhibit solubility in a wide range of organic solvents with minimal viscosity increase, are compatible with a wide variety of resins, and are useful in coatings and inks compositions as binder resins and rheology modifiers.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for regenerating or derivatizing cellulose. The process comprises the steps of providing a source of unrefined cellulose, and dissolving the unrefined cellulose in a molten inorganic salt. The source of unrefined cellulose may be a biomass, such as wood. The process permits the regeneration or derivatization of cellulose having a high degree of polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot melt adhesive, comprising at least one polysaccharide ester gained by a reaction of a polysaccharide with an imidazolide in melted imidazole. The invention relates, further, to a process for producing the hot melt adhesive, in which imidazole is melted, and an acid chloride and/or an acid anhydride and/or a lactone is reacted in and with the melted imidazole to form an imidazolide, whereby at least one polysaccharide is added to the melted imidazole, whereby the polysaccharide is reacted with the imidazolide to form a polysaccharide ester.

Abstract: There is provided a cellulose hydrate membrane having a porous double structure which consists of micropores having a diameter in the range from >100 nm to 20 ?m and ultrapores which have a diameter of <100 nm and which are not accessible to Blue Dextran having an average molecular weight Mw of 2 000 000, wherein the fraction of the volume of the ultrapores is more than 15% of the entire pore volume accessible to water. In addition, a method for producing the membrane, its use as an adsorption membrane, and an apparatus for membrane chromatography are specified.

Abstract: A Cellulose acylate film, in which X-ray diffraction intensity satisfies following formulae and a half-value width of the peak at 2?2 is 3° or less: 0.40?Ic/(Iam+Ic)?0.85; Iam=I1+{(I3?I1)/(2?3?2?1)×(2?2?2?1)}; and Ic=I2?Iam, wherein when it is assumed that ? is the Bragg angle, 2?1 and 2?3 indicate 2? at which the intensity becomes the minimum in the 2? range of 4° to 5° and 14° to 16°, respectively, 2?2 indicates 2? at which the intensity becomes the maximum in the 2? range of 5° to 10°, and I1, I2 and I3 indicate a diffractive intensity at 2?1, 2?2 and 2?3, respectively.

Abstract: A transglycosylation product, a method of producing the same and use of the product. The transglycosylation product comprises an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl glycoside of a cellulose ester or ether, wherein the alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups of the glycoside residue comprise a carbon chain having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and having 0 to 2 free hydroxyl groups and being attached to the 1-carbon of the anhydroglucose unit via an oxy group. The product can be produced by mixing the cellulose derivative with mono-, di- or triol to form a reaction mixture, after which the reaction mixture is heated and the reaction is continued until a clear mixture is obtained. After cooling the recoverable product is suitable for use for example as an adhesive or as a hydrophobic coating.

Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into reactive chemical feedstock in a batch or semi continuous process by the stepwise treatment with aqueous aliphatic alcohols in the presence of sulfur dioxide or acid. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated in a fashion that cellulose is removed as pulp, or converted to esterified cellulose, cooking chemicals are reused, lignin is separated in the forms of reactive native lignin and reactive lignosulfonates and hemicelluloses are converted into fermentable sugars, while fermentation inhibitors are removed. In an integrated vapor compression stripper and evaporator system, aliphatic alcohol is removed from a liquid stream and the resulting stream is concentrated for further processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cellulose ester in which heat resistance under wet condition is compatible with both releasability and spinnability even when the amount of the residual solvent is small in a casting process. The cellulose ester fulfills the following formula: 0.5<(B)/(A)<1.5 wherein (A) and (B) represent the total amount (in terms of molar amount) of residual sulfuric acid in 1 gram of the cellulose ester and the total amount (in terms of molar amount) of calcium contained in 1 gram of the cellulose ester, respectively.

Abstract: An annular fluid or packer fluid, and methods of making the same, that includes a water-miscible solvent, a viscosifying additive, a crosslinking agent, a crosslinking inhibitor having the facility to inhibit crosslinking between the viscosifying additive and the crosslinking agent, and an initiating agent having the facility to overcome an action of the crosslinking inhibitor and to initiate crosslinking between the viscosifying additive and the crosslinking agent, is shown and described. The fluid has a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.25 btu/(hr·ft·° F.) and a potential to substantially increase its viscosity upon sitting for a selected period of time.

Abstract: A polymer film, wherein when any point in the polymer film is taken as a center, a maximum difference between high and low film thicknesses within a range of 60 mm diameter is not more than 1 ?m, an RMS value of a film thickness is 0 ?m to 0.15 ?m or a difference between maximum and minimum values of slow axis angle in any 60 mm×60 mm square in the polymer film is 0° to 0.40°; and a solution casting film-forming method comprising: casting a dope on a support; peeling the casted film, wherein a dry wind of 3 m/s to 15 m/s is applied to the casted film within 15 seconds from the casting, and wherein before the dry wind is applied to the casted film, an air floating on a surface of the casted film has a wind velocity of less than 3 m/s.

Abstract: To provide a thermoplastic resin film, and process for producing the same, which can obtain a film having high optical properties in which the occurrence of residual strain and the exhibition of retardation during film forming are suppressed. A film (12) is produced by extruding melted thermoplastic resins in sheet form through a die (24), and sandwiching the sheet between a pair of rollers (26), (28) configured so that at least one of the rollers is an elastic roller (26) made from metal, to cool and solidify the sheet into the film, the thickness Z of a metal tube (44) constituting an outer shell of the elastic roller (26) being in a range of 0.05 mm<z<7.0 mm, wherein the sheet is formed as a laminate sheet having two or more layers by using two or more of the thermoplastic resins A, B, and in the laminate sheet a glass transition temperature Tg (° C.) of the thermoplastic resin B forming an inner layer is 3 to 50° C. less than the glass transition temperature Tg (° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cellulose ester film, comprising at least one cellulose ester that satisfies the following formulae, 2.2?X1+X2?2.55, 1.1?X1<1.5, and 1.05?X2?1.4, which satisfies the following formulae Re(450)/Re(550)<1, Re(650)/Re(550)>1, Rth(450)/Rth(550)<1, and Rth(650)/Rth(550)>1, wherein X1 means a degree of substitution with an acetyl group in the cellulose ester; X2 means a degree of substitution with a propionyl group and/or a butyryl group in the cellulose ester; Re(?) means retardation (nm) in plane of the film at a wavelength of ? (nm); and Rth(?) means retardation (nm) along the thickness direction of the film at a wavelength of ? (nm).

Abstract: The present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers exhibiting high separation power. That is, the present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers including, as an active ingredient, a polysaccharide derivative having at least part of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups of a polysaccharide such as cellulose or amylose substituted by at least one of atomic groups represented by the following general formulae (I) and (II): (in the formulae, R represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, or a linear, branched, or cyclic aliphatic group).

Abstract: This invention involves a composition, a method of making, and an application of high plasticization-resistant chemically cross-linked polymeric membranes such as cross-linked cellulose acetate (CA) membrane. These cross-linked polymeric membranes with covalently interpolymer-chain-connected rigid networks showed no decrease in CO2/CH4 ideal selectivity under 690 kPa (100 psig) pure CO2 pressure and also no CO2 plasticization up to 3447 kPa (500 psig) pure CO2 pressure. By using the method of chemical cross-linking as described in this invention, the separation characteristics of the polymeric membranes can be decisively improved. These new cross-linked polymeric membranes can be used not only for gas separations such as CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 separations, O2/N2 separation, olefin/paraffin separations (e.g. propylene/propane separation), iso/normal paraffins separations, but also for liquid separations such as pervaporation and desalination.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent polymer film, which comprises stretching a starting transparent polymer film by at least 10% at (Tg+50)° C. or higher wherein the starting transparent polymer film has a water vapor permeability at 40° C. and 90% RH of at least 100 g/(m2·day) in terms of the film having a thickness of 80 ?m. The method provides a transparent polymer film having a high modulus of elasticity, a suitable water vapor permeability and little dimensional change.

Abstract: Cellulose mixed esters are disclosed having low molecular weights and low degrees of polymerization. These new cellulose mixed esters include cellulose acetate propionate and cellulose acetate butyrate. The esters exhibit solubility in a wide range of organic solvents with minimal viscosity increase, are compatible with a wide variety of resins, and are useful in coatings and inks compositions as binder resins and rheology modifiers.

Abstract: Ionic liquids and cellulose ester compositions and processes for producing ionic liquids and cellulose esters. Cellulose esters can be produced by subjecting a cellulose-ionic liquid solution comprising cellulose, one or more ionic liquids, and one or more co-solvents to esterification to thereby produce an esterified medium comprising a cellulose ester. The co-solvents employed in the present invention can be either miscible or immiscible with the cellulose-ionic liquid solution but can be readily dispersed or soluble in the esterified medium.

Abstract: Ionic liquids and cellulose ester compositions and processes for producing ionic liquids and cellulose esters. Cellulose esters can be produced by esterifying cellulose in a reaction medium comprising one or more ionic liquids. Cellulose esters prepared via the methods of the present invention can be contacted with at least one bleaching agent to produce bleached cellulose esters having a ?E value of less than 30.

Abstract: Ionic liquids and cellulose ester compositions and processes for producing ionic liquids and cellulose esters. Cellulose esters can be produced by esterifying cellulose in a reaction medium comprising one or more halide ionic liquids and at least one binary component. Cellulose esters prepared via the methods of the present invention can have a degree of substitution (“DS”) of at least 1.5 and can comprise a plurality of ester substituents, where at least 50 percent of the ester substituents comprise alkyl esters having a carbon chain length of at least 6 carbons.