Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating wood in order to improve its properties of use and storage, and to thus obtained treated wood product. In the method the wood to be treated is contacted with a treatment composition comprising monoester, diester or triester or a mixture thereof formed by a water soluble C1-C10 alcohol and formic acid as an equilibrium solution. In addition, the invention relates to specific treatment solution compositions.

Abstract: Methods for esterifying hydroxyl groups in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in wood are described, wherein the wood is chosen from loblolly, slash, shortleaf, longleaf or radiata pines. Methods can include solvent drying techniques and heating provided by electromagnetic radiation, such as microwave, and radiofrequency. Products made from the methods are described that have greater decay resistance and dimensional stability as compared with non-esterified wood products.

Abstract: A wooden material is made by bonding together with a binder resin, ozonized wood elements obtained by acetylating wood elements and then ozonizing the acetylated wood elements.

Abstract: Stainproofing properties are imparted to a cellulose fiber by 1) esterifying a part of hydroxyl groups of the cellulose fiber in a heterogeneous reaction system and 2) subjecting the partially esterified cellulose fiber to a stainproofing treatment with an aqueous solution or emulsion of a copolymer having repeating units derived from a fluroalkyl group-containing polymerizable compound and a compound represented by the general formula:CH.sub.2 .dbd.CR.sup.1 COO--(XO).sub.m --(YO).sub.n --R.sup.2( 1)wherein X is --CH(CH.sub.3)--CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.sub.2 --CH(CH.sub.3)--; Y is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --; R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and each of m and n is an integer of 0 to 50, provided that the total of m and n is an integer of 1 to 70.

Abstract: Carboxymethyl cellulose fiber having a degree of substitution of at least 0.1, preferably 0.2-0.5, carboxymethyl groups per glucose unit is derived from solvent-spun cellulose fiber, for example by reaction with a strong alkali and a monochloroacetate reagent. The fiber has an absorbency of at least 8 grams, usually at least 15 grams, 0.9% saline solution per gram of fibre and a tenacity of at least 10, usually at least 15, cN/tex. It can be used for absorbent personal products.

Abstract: The fibrillation tendency of solvent-spun cellulose fibre is reduced by treating the fibre with a cross-linking agent and a flexible linear polymer with terminal functional groups, for example polyethylene glycol (PEG) of molecular weight 300 to 600. The fibre may be treated in never-dried or in fabric form.

Abstract: A process for recycling polyester/cotton blends by reducing the polyester to a lower dialkyl ester of terephthalic acid and reducing the cotton to cellulose acetate. The novel process to recycle the polyester/cotton blends includes the steps of (a) providing a blend of polyester and cotton fibers; (b) subjecting the polyester/cotton blend to a first alcoholysis in a bath containing an alcohol and an effective catalyst at a suitable temperature until the polyester is depolymerized to a lower molecular weight polyester oligomer; (c) remove the cotton fibers from the alcoholic solution of oligomers and process the recovered cotton fibers by pulping and acetylyzing processes to recover the cellulose acetate; and (d) alcoholyze the low molecular weight polyester oligomers to produce the lower dialkyl ester of terephthalic acid.

Abstract: Reaction of lignocellulosic material with uncatalyzed acetic anhydride in the absence of any cosolvent is disclosed. The process improves dimensional stability and resistance to biological attack of the lignocellulosic material. Lignocellulosic material is treated by exposure to liquid acetic anhydride for at least a short period of time, after which it is then heated to acetylate the material. The excess anhydride and byproduct acetic acid can be removed by vacuum.

Abstract: A process for acetylating a wood material which comprises impregnating the wood material with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal acetate, drying the wood material containing the alkali metal acetate solution, and treating the dried wood material with acetic anhydride optionally diluted with an organic solvent at temperature between 100.degree. C. and 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Water repellancy is imparted to fibrous cellulosic textile material by applying to it, for a very short period of time, an isopropenyl ester containing a catalytic amount of an acid catalyst and then heat curing the treated material. Excellent water repellancy is obtained at a very low degree of substitution and a high degree of retention of tensile strength.

Abstract: Textile wastes composed of blended polyester and cellulose fibers are subjected to the action of glacial acetic acid and acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst under conditions which serve to convert the cellulose component of the waste to cellulose acetate which is separated from the unreacted polyester component in the form of a solution adapted to be used in the manufacture of cellulose derivatives whereas the polyester is recovered in a form which may be garnetted to obtain a staple fiber for reuse.