CARBOHYDRATE BASED BINDER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ITS PRODUCTION

1 . An aqueous binder composition, comprising a carbohydrate component (a) and an amine component (b), wherein the carbohydrate component (a) comprises one or more pentose(s) in a total amount of 3 to 70 mass %, based on the mass of the total carbohydrate component (a).

2 . The binder composition according to claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate component (a) further comprises one or more hexose(s) in a total amount of 97 to 30 mass %, based on the mass of the total carbohydrate component (a).

3 . The binder composition according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more pentose(s) is/are selected from the group consisting of xylose, arabinose, ribose, lyxose, ribulose and xylulose, or any combination thereof.

4 . The binder composition according to claim 1 , wherein the amine component (b) is selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, amino acids, organic amines, polyamines, ammonia, ammonium salts of a monomeric polycarboxylic acid, ammonium salts of a polymeric polycarboxylic acid, and ammonium salts of an inorganic acid, or any combination thereof.

5 . The binder composition according to claim 1 , wherein said binder composition further comprises an amino acid component (c).

6 . A binder obtainable by heating the binder composition according to claim 1 .

7 . A method of producing an aqueous binder composition, comprising a carbohydrate component (a) and an amine component (b), wherein the carbohydrate component (a) comprises one or more pentose(s) in a total amount of 3 to 70 mass %, based on the mass of the total carbohydrate component (a),

wherein the method comprises the steps:

(i) hydrolyzing one or more cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s),

(ii) isolating the carbohydrates from the one or more hydrolized cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s),

(iii) using the isolated carbohydrates from the one or more cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s) to form a carbohydrate component (a), comprising one or more pentose(s) in a total amount of 3 to 70 mass %, based on the mass of the total carbohydrate component (a), and

(iv) adding an amine component (b).

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein step (i) of hydrolyzing one or more cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s) independently comprises treatment with heat/pressure, enzymatic and/or acidic treatment and/or metal chloride hydrolysis of each of said one or more cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s).

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the carbohydrate component (a) further comprises one or more hexose(s) in a total amount of 97 to 30 mass %, based on the mass of the total carbohydrate component (a).

10 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more pentose(s) is/are selected from the group consisting of xylose, arabinose, ribose, lyxose, ribulose and xylulose, or any combination thereof.

11 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s) are selected from the group consisting of agricultural residues such as corn stover and sugarcane bagasse; dedicated energy crops such as sugar beet, switchgrass, Miscanthus, hemp, willow and corn; wood residues, such as wood chips, timber barc, saw mill discards and paper mill discards; municipal paper waste, such as used paper and low grade paper waste; as well as industrial cellulose sources, such as brewery waste and dairy products.

12 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the amine component (b) is selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, amino acids, organic amines, polyamines, ammonia, ammonium salts of a monomeric polycarboxylic acid, ammonium salts of a polymeric polycarboxylic acid, and ammonium salts of an inorganic acid, or any combination thereof.

13 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein step (iii) of forming the carbohydrate component (a) includes combining carbohydrates and/or carbohydrate mixtures obtained from at least two different cellulose-based carbohydrate sources.

14 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said binder composition further comprises an amino acid component (c).

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein said amino acid component (c) is formed by using amino acids obtained from step (i) of hydrolyzing one or more cellulose-based carbohydrate source(s).

16 . A method of manufacturing a product selected from the group consisting of: mineral wool insulation, glass wool insulation, stone wool insulation, a collection of fibers, a collection of particles, a collection of cellulose containing particles or fibers, a wood board, an orientated strand board, a wood particle board, plywood, an abrasive, a non-woven fiber product, a woven fiber product, a foundry mould, a refractory product, a briquette, a friction material, a filter, and an impregnated laminate

comprising the steps of:

applying to non- or loosely assembled matter a binder in accordance with claim 1 or a binder manufactured in accordance with claim 7 ; and

curing the binder.