Abstract:
This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The continuous process further utilizes nanoparticles of a crystalline metal oxide. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.
Abstract:
This specification discloses a complete method to manufacture polyester articles from freshly harvested ligno-cellulosic biomass. The process steps include pretreating the biomass and the converting the lignin to one of several possible organic steams by deoxygenating and dehydrogenating the lignin in the presence of a Raney Nickel catalyst, separating the organics, and then processing the organics into polyester feedstocks and converting those feedstocks to polyester.
Abstract:
This specification discloses a method to convert a lignin biomass feedstream to a converted lignin stream comprising aromatic compounds. The process comprises combining a lignin biomass feedstream comprising lignin, at least one solvent and at least one catalyst in a reaction vessel. Preferably the ratio of moles of catalyst to moles of lignin is in the range of between 4:1 and 15:1. The lignin biomass feedstream is then deoxygenated to a converted lignin stream at a deoxygenation temperature and a deoxygenation pressure for a deoxygenation time.
Abstract:
This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.