Abstract:
Lignocellulosic biomass can be fractionated for the purpose of increasing cellulose purity in the pulp, increasing native lignin content of the isolated lignin, and improving cellulose hydrolysis, by performing the steps of: (a) extracting the biomass with an extracting liquid comprising at least 20 wt% of a first organic solvent at a temperature below 100 °C; (b) treating the extracted biomass with a treatment liquid comprising a second organic solvent selected from lower alcohols, ethers and ketones, optionally water and optionally an acid, at a temperature between 120 °C and 280 °C, and, optionally: (c) subjecting a cellulose-enriched product stream resulting from step (b) to enzymatic hydrolysis. The first and second organic solvent may be different or the same; in particular they comprise ethanol or acetone.
Abstract:
A method of hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treating biomass is provided. Lignocellulosic biomass solids is provided to a hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a digestive solvent, at least one of ammonia or a source of ammonia, and a supported hydrogenolysis catalyst containing (a) sulfur, (b) Mo or W, and (c) Co, Ni or mixture thereof, incorporated into a suitable support. The lignocellulosic biomass solids and digestive solvent are heated in the presence of hydrogen, supported hydrogenolysis catalyst and the at least one of ammonia or a source of ammonia forming a product solution containing plurality of oxygenated hydrocarbons and ammonia. At least a portion of ammonia is separated and recycled to the hydrothermal digestion unit.
Abstract:
A method of making a carbon fiber comprising esterification of a lignin precursor with an acid, acid anhydride, or acyl halide, thereby forming a reduced Tg lignin. Mixing the reduced Tg lignin with a carbon residue selected from the group of coal based raw material, petroleum based raw material and combinations thereof, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture; and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for producing lignin esterified with at least one fatty acid, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (i) reacting acetylated lignin with at least one fatty acid under the influence of heating and distilling at least part of the acetic acid formed during the reaction away from the reaction mixture, wherein per each mole of acetyl groups present in the lignin an excess molar amount of at least one fatty acid is used; and (ii) recovering lignin esterified with at least one fatty acid formed in step (i).
Abstract:
The invention relates to amethod for recovering low molecular weight lignin from a filtrate, wherein the low molecular weight lignin comprises lignin molecules having a molecular weight of 3000 g/mol or lower, wherein the filtrate is obtained from a process where lignin is precipitated from black liquor and the formed precipitate is separated therefrom by filtration resulting in the filtrate comprising low molecular weight lignin being formed, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) adjusting the pH of the filtrate to a value of 3 –4 for precipitating lignin in the filtrate; b) separating the precipitated lignin from the filtrate; c) reslurrying the separated lignin until the dry solids content of the slurry is 25 -40 weight-% and adjusting the pH of the slurry to a value of2 -3; d) washing the slurry; and e) separating the lignin from the slurry.
Abstract:
In one example implementation, a trans-esterified HPL can include a HPL and a polyester including polyester chains. The polyester may be an aliphatic polyester, a semi-aromatic polyester, or an aromatic polyester.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for processing lignin. The method comprises: feeding lignin material (11) to the system, decreasing particle size of the lignin material (11) in a grinding device (30) in order to manufacture lignin powder having particle size distribution wherein at least 85 wt.% of the lignin agglomerates and particles are less than 300 microns, and increasing dry solids content of the lignin material at least 5 percentage units while decreasing the particle size in the grinding device (30). In addition, the invention relates to a system for processing lignin, a lignin powder, a method for manufacturing a product comprising lignin, a system for manufacturing a product comprising lignin and a product comprising lignin powder.
Abstract:
Methods for converting waste streams from the wood pulping industry to high-value surfactants are described. For example, isolated lignin and lignosulfonate or waste streams containing lignin and lignosulfonate can be directly converted to surfactants, or they can be first converted to methylol derivatives and treated with further reagents to produce surfactants.