Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus

Neste Chemicals Oy

Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy

Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt

Pia Qvintus-Leino

Liisa Viikari

Kirsi Kataja

Soili Hellevi Peltonen

Hannu Mikkonen

Mauno Miettinen

Kirsi Immonen

Anneli Hase

Marja-Leena Niku-Paavola

Maria Smolander

Harry Boer

Anu Koivula

Lars G&auml;dda

Simo Tuominen

Arto Maaninen

Matti Valkiainen

Soili Peltonen

Petri Varjos

Saija Luukkanen

Saija Luukkainen

Allan Johansson

Diffractive microstructure comprising micro-protrusions or microgrooves or a combination thereof and method of producing the same. The microstructure is formed in a layer of a thermoplastic carbohydrate polymer or a polymer derived from a carbohydrate material, said polymer having a glass transition point of less than 210&#xb0; C. The thermoplastic polymer is preferably selected from the group of native starch, dextrin, native hemicellulose, native cellulose, poly(lactic acid), polylactides, polycaprolactone, starch derivatives, dextrin derivatives, hemicellulose derivatives, cellulose derivatives, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides an inexpensive and reliable way of incorporating into the products safety markings, which allow for visual inspection or detection, such as holograms and barcodes.

Diffractive microstructure and a method of producing the same

A thin film structure, method of producing it and the use thereof. The thin film structure comprises a substrate with a thin conductive layer containing an oxidizing enzyme mixed with an electron transfer mediator. The thin layer is protected against wetting to allow for its storage in dry conditions and further being sufficiently porous to allow for immediate activation of the oxidizing enzyme when contacted with an aqueous solution. The thin film can be used as a cathode in electrochemical fuel cells.

Thin film structures

The present invention relates to a light, biodegradable, organic pigment and filler, and a method of manufacturing it. According to the present invention, a solution comprising a starch derivative is first prepared by dissolving the starch derivative into a suitable solvent, and, after that, the solution is brought into contact with a non-solvent to precipitate the starch derivative from the solvent, and, as a result, a dispersion is obtained, one which comprises a precipitate consisting of starch derivative and a liquid phase formed of the solvent and the non-solvent, after which the solvent is removed from the liquid phase and the precipitate is separated from the non-solvent and recovered. The present invention can be used to manufacture both a product comprising 100-300 nm spherical particles, which is suitable for use as a pigment, and a coral-like, porous product which is particularly suitable as a filler.

Pigment and filler and a method of manufacturing it

A material which is suitable as filler or coating pigment for a fibrous web and a method for manufacturing thereof. According to the method, a feed comprising organic polymer material is cooled to at least approximately &#x2212;50&#xb0; C., after which it is refined in a jet refiner to a desired particle size. The present invention generates uniform pigment particles which comprise, for instance, starch esters, and which particles have a porous surface structure, in which case they are suitable for instance as coating pigments and fillers for offset and ink-jet papers.

Starch-based filler and coating pigment composition for fibre webs and method for the manufacture thereof

An adhesive binder for bonding together lignocellulosic particles, fibers and flakes of vegetable origin to form particle boards, fiber boards, flake boards and similar wood-based products, comprising a solublized fraction obtained by enzymatic treatment of fibrous, lignocellulosic raw materials. The present binder can be obtained by treating fibrous lignocellulosic raw material with a hydrolytic enzyme in an aqueous medium, recovering the solubilized material of the enzymatic treatment, forming an aqueous suspension containing said material and an oxidase, and oxidizing said material in the presence of said oxidase by introducing oxygen-containing gas into the supension. This method thus produces an increased amount of a water-soluble fraction containing carbohydrates, extractives and lignin useful as an adhesive binder.

Adhesive for fiber boards

The invention relates to an intermediate product for the preparation of polymerizates from lignin derivatives obtained from the cellulose industry. The intermediate product is produced by treating the lignin derivatives with enzymes capable of oxidizing phenol in the presence of oxidizing agents. According to the invention the lignin derivatives are subjected to the enzymatic treatment for more than 3 hours in the presence of air, or they are subjected to an enzymatic treatment for more than 10 min, whereby air or oxygen is introduced. The lignin polymers obtained from the polymerization of lignin derivatives performed in the presence of active intermediate products are suited for use in the production of binding agents for wood materials.

Intermediate product for preparation of lignin polymers and use thereof for production of wood materials

A process for manufacturing fiber boards and similar wood-based products from a lignocellulosic raw material having a moisture content of at least 10 wt-%. According to the process, an aqueous fraction is separated from the fibers of the raw material, which fraction later is recycled to the process in order to form at least a part of the agent used for binding the fibers. Before mixing with the fibers, the aqueous effluent is concentrated and enzymatically oxidized in the presence of oxygen in order to polymerize the solubilized wood material and in order to increase its concentration. Lignin can be added to the water solubilized wood material or the solubilized wood material can be added to the fibers together with another binder. Eventually, the mixture is formed into a board and hardened.

Process for preparing fiber boards

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Espoo, Finland

Pia Qvintus-Leino