Abstract: The present relates to a process for the depolymerization of lignin using chemicals recoverable by the soda or kraft mill recovery cycles. The process involves the use of sodium hydroxide or white liquor to depolymerize lignin in black liquor or other lignins (e.g. hydrolysis lignin, kraft lignin) by conducting the reaction at 170-250° C. for up to 3 hours in the presence or absence of a co-solvent and a capping agent. The depolymerized lignin is then obtained by acidifying the reaction products to a low pH to precipitate the de-polymerized lignin, followed by particle coagulation, cake filtration and washing with acid and water to obtain a purified depolymerized lignin product.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for the synthesis of bio-based formaldehyde-free wood adhesive with lignin and cellulose derived bio-oil which can be generated from the fractionation/liquefaction of lignocellulose biomass such as agricultural and forestry wastes. Curable groups are introduced onto the bio oil through functionalization reaction with cyclic anhydrides such as maleic anhydride, citric anhydride, phthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, methyl succinic anhydride. Wood adhesives are formulated with the functionalized bio oil by addition of water and curing agents. Two-ply plywood samples were prepared following the ASTM International Standard 2017, D2339-98 and cured on a hot press between 190-200° C. for 3-4 min under 3 MPa pressure. The plywood samples have dry and wet strengths in the range of up to 3.5 MPa with over 80% wood failure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cost-effective process for catalytic conversion of simple C6-based sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from starch (such as different grades of High Fructose Corn Syrup) and cellulosic biomass to 5-HydroxyMethylFurfural (5-HMF) in a continuous-flow tubular reactor in bi-phasic media using inexpensive heterogeneous solid catalysts. Commercial and synthesized heterogeneous solid catalysts were used and their activities in terms of sugar conversion and HMF selectivity and yield were compared. Continuous dehydration of fructose, glucose and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from corn and wood to HMF was achieved and the stability of selected catalysts and feasibility of catalyst recycling and regeneration were demonstrated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for the synthesis of bio-based formaldehyde-free wood adhesive with lignin and cellulose derived bio-oil which can be generated from the fractionation/liquefaction of lignocellulose biomass such as agricultural and forestry wastes. Curable groups are introduced onto the bio oil through functionalization reaction with cyclic anhydrides such as maleic anhydride, citric anhydride, phthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, methyl succinic anhydride. Wood adhesives are formulated with the functionalized bio oil by addition of water and curing agents. Two-ply plywood samples were prepared following the ASTM International Standard 2017, D2339-98 and cured on a hot press between 190-200° C. for 3-4 min under 3 MPa pressure. The plywood samples have dry and wet strengths in the range of up to 3.5 MPa with over 80% wood failure.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a process for liquefaction of hydrolysis residue of lignocellulosic biomass, original lignocellulosic biomass or municipal solid waste in alcohol-water media at alkaline conditions, for the production of low-Mw bio-oils. The disclosed process is characterized in that it works for the direct liquefaction of the biomass, and operates under mild conditions (<300° C. and <10 MPa) employing alkali compounds as catalysts (NaOH, KOH, CaO, Na2CO3, K2CO3, Ca(OH)2 or Ba(OH)2). The process is further characterized in that it employs mixed solvents (glycerol-water, ethylene-glycol, water, glycerol-alcohol-water or ethylene-glycol-alcohol water), where all solvents are recyclable and reusable. The low-Mw bio-oils from hydrolysis residue of lignocellulosic biomass, original lignocellulosic biomass or municipal solid waste can be utilized as a liquid bio-fuel or bio-based chemicals for the production of various bio-based materials.

Abstract: Polyether (meth)acrylates based on cyanuric acid or substituted cyanuric acid and multifunctional alcohol, which optionally include triethanolamine units, have wide applications in UV curable adhesives, coatings, inks, sealants, paints or 3D printing. These polyether acrylates have rigid cyanurate structure endowing the material with extra strength and thermal stability. Furthermore, triethanolamine unit, when present, endows the material with anti-oxygen inhibition property in UV curing process. These polyether (meth)acrylates have low viscosity and high reactivity towards UV curing. The cured resins have high resilience and strength.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a process for liquefaction of hydrolysis residue of lignocellulosic biomass, original lignocellulosic biomass or municipal solid waste in alcohol-water media at alkaline conditions, for the production of low-Mw bio-oils. The disclosed process is characterized in that it works for the direct liquefaction of the biomass, and operates under mild conditions (<300° C. and <10 MPa) employing alkali compounds as catalysts (NaOH, KOH, CaO, Na2CO3, K2CO3, Ca(OH)2 or Ba(OH)2). The process is further characterized in that it employs mixed solvents (glycerol-water, ethylene-glycol, water, glycerol-alcohol-water or ethylene-glycol-alcohol water), where all solvents are recyclable and reusable. The low-Mw bio-oils from hydrolysis residue of lignocellulosic biomass, original lignocellulosic biomass or municipal solid waste can be utilized as a liquid bio-fuel or bio-based chemicals for the production of various bio-based materials.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a process based on hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) treatment for co-processing of high-water-content wastewater sludge and other lignocellulosic biomass for co-production of biogas and bio-crude oil. The mixture of waste activated sludge and lignocellulosic biomass such as birchwood sawdust/cornstalk/MSW was converted under HTL conditions in presence of KOH as the homogeneous catalyst. The operating conditions including reaction temperature, reaction time and solids concentration were optimized based on the response surface methodology for the maximum bio-crude oil production. The highest bio-crude oil yield of around 34 wt % was obtained by co-feeding waste activated sludge with lignocellulosic biomass at an optimum temperature of 310° C., reaction time of 10 min, and solids concentration of 10 wt %. The two by-products from this process (bio-char and water-soluble products) can be used to produce energy as well.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cost-effective process for catalytic conversion of simple C6-based sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from starch (such as different grades of High Fructose Corn Syrup) and cellulosic biomass to 5-HydroxyMethylFurfural (5-HMF) in a continuous-flow tubular reactor in bi-phasic media using inexpensive heterogeneous solid catalysts. Commercial and synthesized heterogeneous solid catalysts were used and their activities in terms of sugar conversion and HMF selectivity and yield were compared. Continuous dehydration of fructose, glucose and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from corn and wood to HMF was achieved and the stability of selected catalysts and feasibility of catalyst recycling and regeneration were demonstrated.

Abstract: The present relates to a process for the depolymerization of lignin using chemicals recoverable by the soda or kraft mill recovery cycles. The process involves the use of sodium hydroxide or white liquor to depolymerize lignin in black liquor or other lignins (e.g. hydrolysis lignin, kraft lignin) by conducting the reaction at 170-250° C. for up to 3 hours in the presence or absence of a co-solvent and a capping agent. The depolymerized lignin is then obtained by acidifying the reaction products to a low pH to precipitate the de-polymerized lignin, followed by particle coagulation, cake filtration and washing with acid and water to obtain a purified depolymerized lignin product.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a process based on hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) treatment for co-processing of high-water-content wastewater sludge and other lignocellulosic biomass for co-production of biogas and bio-crude oil. The mixture of waste activated sludge and lignocellulosic biomass such as birchwood sawdust/cornstalk/MSW was converted under HTL conditions in presence of KOH as the homogeneous catalyst. The operating conditions including reaction temperature, reaction time and solids concentration were optimized based on the response surface methodology for the maximum bio-crude oil production. The highest bio-crude oil yield of around 34 wt % was obtained by co-feeding waste activated sludge with lignocellulosic biomass at an optimum temperature of 310° C., reaction time of 10 min, and solids concentration of 10 wt %. The two by-products from this process (bio-char and water-soluble products) can be used to produce energy as well.

Abstract: A resin composition containing the reaction product of a 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) produced in-situ from e.g., glucose and a phenolic compound. Phenolic compounds include phenol, cardanol and bio-phenol. The resin is heat-curable using cross-linking agents such as tetraethylammonium chloride or lignin, etc.

Abstract: The present application is directed to the preparation of low viscosity bio-oils from the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of lignocellulosic biomass in the presence of a crude glycerol and water mixture achieving a high biomass conversion ratio. The modified HTL process allows the direct use of crude glycerol as an effective solvent for biomass liquefaction creating a highly efficient and cost-effective process. Furthermore, the resulting bio-oils containing liquefied biomass, crude glycerol and water, were successfully applied as an inexpensive green substitute in the preparation of bio-based phenol formaldehyde (BPF) adhesives which retain bonding strengths (dry or wet strength) as required by ASTM standard and free formaldehyde emission levels at the F*** and F**** level according to the JIS standard.

Abstract: A resin composition containing the reaction product of a 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) produced in-situ from e.g., glucose and a phenolic compound. Phenolic compounds include phenol, cardanol and bio-phenol. The resin is heat-curable using cross-linking agents such as tetraethylammonium chloride or lignin, etc.

Abstract: A method for interpreting a plurality of m-dimensional attribute vectors (m2) assigned to a plurality of locations in an n-dimensional interpretation space (n1), which method comprises arranging at least a subset of the attribute vectors as points in an m-dimensional attribute space; defining k classes (k2) of attribute vectors by identifying for each class at least one classification point in attribute space; postulating a classification rule for points in attribute space; determining a class-membership attribute of a point in attribute space using the classification points and the classification rule to obtain a classified point; and assigning a display parameter to the classified point which is related to the class-membership attribute. In one embodiment the display parameter is a mixed display parameter derived from probabilistic membership values each representing a probability that the classified point belongs to a selected class.

Abstract: A method for interpreting a plurality of m-dimensional attribute vectors (m2) assigned to a plurality of locations in an n-dimensional interpretation space (n1), which method comprises arranging at least a subset of the attribute vectors as points in an m-dimensional attribute space; defining k classes (k2) of attribute vectors by identifying for each class at least one classification point in attribute space; postulating a classification rule for points in attribute space; determining a class-membership attribute of a point in attribute space using the classification points and the classification rule to obtain a classified point; and assigning a display parameter to the classified point which is related to the class-membership attribute. In one embodiment the display parameter is a mixed display parameter derived from probabilistic membership values each representing a probability that the classified point belongs to a selected class.