Background
Improving the mechanical properties of paper and reducing the fiber content in paper are commercially important to the $250 billion/year forest products industry. Technologies for extending the life and recyclability of cellulose fiber, thus reducing the consumption, energy requirements, and other environmental impacts associated with cellulose fiber processing are particularly critical. In addition, replacements for petroleum derived polymers are also needed whose entire lifecycle is ecologically sustainable.

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable material on the planet and the main structural element in wood and processed wood products ranging from particleboard to paper. Yet unlike other high performance materials, it is produced biologically in a natural process that consumes and stores CO2 without the need for high temperature, high energy-consuming processes. Along with its unique molecular structure, this makes cellulose an attractive candidate for compositing. Such composite materials could extend the life and recyclability of cellulose fiber, as well as be useful for specialty paper applications. This material can also be used as a reinforcement in biopolymers to make them more competitive to traditional petroleum derived plastic.

Invention Description
The disclosed invention relates to the use of proteins and certain other compounds for binding calcium-containing mineral compounds to cellulose. Specific minerals include calcium phosphates and calcium carbonate. The invention also relates to the use of certain proteins to bind cellulose to polylactic acid (PLA). The composites provided herein can be used to produce cardboard products, particleboard products, and specialty paper products. In some cases, the composites can be used to produce a coating layer (e.g., an inner coating layer or an outer coating layer) for a cardboard product, particleboard product, or paper product.

File Number: 3592a