Abstract:
The present specification discloses a composition comprising a plurality of diols which is useful for the production of polyester bottles, wherein the diols are mainly obtained from the conversion of a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock stream. The composition comprises ethylene glycol and at least one diol selected from the group of diols having a formula of C n H z (OH) 2 , wherein n is the total number of carbons and is an integer in the range from 3 to 20, z is an integer in the range from 0 to 2n, and C 1 and C 2 are each attached to one of the OH groups of the formula (e.g. 1,2-Propylene glycol, 1,2-Butanediol and 1,2-Pentanediol) and wherein the composition is substantially free of diols which absorb light at a wavelength of 275nm, so that the percent light transmission of the composition at a wavelength of 275nm is greater than 40%.
Abstract:
It is disclosed a system for feeding a ligno-cellulosic feedstock (50) to a pressurized vessel (200) having a vapor or gas phase of at least one fluid maintaining a vessel pressure greater than or equal to 1 bar. The pressurized vessel comprises a feedstock inlet (230), a feedstock outlet (220), a top and a bottom relative to the force of gravity, wherein the feedstock outlet is closer to the bottom of the pressurized vessel than the feedstock inlet. The feeding system further comprises a plug forming system (100) comprising a plug forming device (105) located in a plug forming chamber (130), the chamber having a first end (110B) and a second end (110A), said first end having a first end operating pressure which is lower than the vessel pressure and said second end being connected to the feedstock inlet and having a second end operating pressure which is greater than the first operating pressure. Said plug forming device is capable of receiving the ligno-cellulosic feedstock at the first end pressure; advancing the ligno-cellulosic feedstock through the plug forming chamber; and forming a plug from the ligno-cellulosic feedstock which prevents the passage of the vapor or gas phase from the pressurized vessel. The feeding system further comprises a sealing head located inside the pressurized vessel, which is movable at a seal opening speed between a sealing position located at the feedstock inlet and a rest position, wherein the sealing head in the sealing position isolates the pressurized vessel from the plug forming chamber. The seal opening speed is fast enough so that the sealing head disengages from the feedstock before or at the moment the sealing head reaches the rest position. The sealing head in the rest position is located at a distance far enough away from the feedstock inlet (sealing head) so that the feedstock entering the pressurized vessel does not contact the sealing head.
Abstract:
A process for producing polyols from a low viscosity slurry comprising a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass which has been subjected to a fiber shives reduction step is provided. Specifically, a continuous process for catalyzing the formation of polyol products, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, from the low viscosity slurry is provided.
Abstract:
It is disclosed an integrated process for producing at least a cellulosic pulp comprising cellulose in the form of fibers and a polyols stream from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The process comprises the steps of: a) Treating the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to produce the cellulosic pulp and at least a liquid sugar stream comprising water and monomeric sugars derived from the hemicellulose of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock; b) Catalytically converting the monomeric sugars of the liquid sugar stream to a polyols mixture, comprising primary polyols and secondary polyols; c) Separating at least a portion of the polyols mixture into at least the polyols stream and a residual stream, wherein the polyols stream comprises the majority by weight of the primary polyols and the residual stream comprises the majority by weight of the secondary polyols; d) Recovering a first thermal energy from the residual stream in a first recovery unit.
Abstract:
It is disclosed a process forincreasing the enzymatic accessibility of a thermally treated ligno- cellulosic biomass feedstock which has been thermally treated at a severity factor. The process comprises a step of fiber shives reduction, for reducing the amount of long shives. The thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is characterized by having an increased glucans accessibility and by forming a slurry having a low viscosity.