Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic material to obtain hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose and other high-value products. Also provided are hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose, and other high-value products.

Abstract: A multifunctional continuous phase transition extraction apparatus comprises an extraction system, a desorption system and a solvent recovery system. The extraction system comprises a first heat exchanger and an extraction tank. The desorption system comprises a second heat exchanger, a first desorption tank, a second desorption tank, a first purification column and a second purification column. The solvent recovery system comprises a first condenser, a second condenser, a first solvent tank and a second solvent tank. Two extraction loops can be formed in the present invention. During the overall extraction process, the phase transition process of the extracting agent is real-time and continuous. The extracting agent goes through continuous phase-transitions and is cyclically re-used. The overall process is operated in an airtight and low-pressure condition, and is multifunctional, safe, reliable, and suitable for the extraction for most natural products.

Abstract: A pretreatment for use with systems and methods for extracting and separating a bio-molecule, such as a lipid and/or a protein, from a biomass includes the step of contacting the biomass with a drying gas to substantially dewater the biomass to 20% water content by mass or less. Such pretreated biomass, mixed with one or more compressed liquefied gas solvents, may then be introduced into individual filter cells in a rotary pressure filter to separate lipids from proteins.

Abstract: A system, method and configuration for recovering turpentine during the manufacturing of wood chips, wood pellets or other substances that may include turpentine. In general, a turpentine recovery system is used to capture turpentine from exhaust of a dryer as wood chips are being dried. Advantageously, application of the various techniques disclosed herein can result in the recovery of turpentine that can then be sold to generate revenue and, may contribute to a reduction in the capital and operation costs for emission controls for the dryer exhaust.

Abstract: A process for removing water and solutes from the lumens of green wood, while leaving the cell walls throughout the wood uniformly fully swollen, comprises subjecting the green wood to supercritical carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A wood treatment method and apparatus that includes a laterally shiftable transportation segment adjacent a door of a wood treatment vessel. When retracted, the shiftable transportation segment accommodates the opening and/or closing of the door. When aligned, the shiftable transportation segment can support the weight of a cart that transports a bundle of wood into and/or out of the wood treatment vessel. Wood treatment systems described herein may also include a bundle adjustment system for applying an aligning force to at least a portion of the bundle during its loading and/or unloading from the wood treatment vessel.

Abstract: A system, method and configuration for recovering turpentine during the manufacturing of wood chips, wood pellets or other substances that may include turpentine. In general, a turpentine recovery system is used to capture turpentine from exhaust of a dryer as wood chips are being dried. Advantageously, application of the various techniques disclosed herein can result in the recovery of turpentine that can then be sold to generate revenue and, may contribute to a reduction in the capital and operation costs for emission controls for the dryer exhaust.

Abstract: A process for pyrolysing biomass is provided. The process comprises providing biomass to a pyrolysis reactor to produce a vapour product and condensing said vapour product to produce a condensed product, wherein a phase separation suppression agent is added during said process so as to promote the formation of a single phase condensed product.

Abstract: An adhesive composition made by reacting a soy protein with at least one compound under conditions sufficient for introducing additional phenolic hydroxyl functional groups, amine functional groups, and/or thiol functional groups into the soy protein structure.

Abstract: An adhesive composition made by reacting a soy protein with at least one compound under conditions sufficient for introducing additional phenolic hydroxyl functional groups, amine functional groups, and/or thiol functional groups into the soy protein structure.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preparing a natural resin by liquefying wood, bark, forest residues, wood industry residues, or other biomass using rapid destructive distillation (fast pyrolysis). Fast pyrolysis produces both vapors and char from biomass, and following removal of the char from the product vapors, a liquid pitch product is recovered and processed by distillation, evaporation, or a combination thereof, in order to obtain a natural resin which may be in either liquid or solid form. The natural resin comprises a total phenolic content from about 30% to about 80% (w/w), and is a highly-reactive ligninic compound that has been found to be suitable for use within resin formulations without requiring any further extraction or fractionation procedures. Resins comprising up to 60% natural resin have been prepared and tested in board production and found to exhibit similar properties associated with commercially available resins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for drying wood, characterized in that it comprises a pressurizing step to place a sealed chamber (1) under a predetermined pressure by injecting or generating saturating steam and maintaining this pressure for a predetermined time interval, while ensuring a forced circulation of air and saturating steam within the chamber, a heating step to heat the wood core and central zone of the wood pieces by emitting microwaves at frequencies ranging between 400 and 2450 MHz, an evacuation step to carry away the liquid exudates from the wood when run down to the bottom of the chamber (1) where they are collected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting the natural juice of ligneous plant material, a device for carrying out said method and the use of said method in the production of dried ligneous plant material. The method for extracting the natural juice of ligneous plant material comprises the following: a pressurization step in which a sealed enclosure containing the plant material is pressurized, whereby the pressure thereof is greater than that of the atmosphere; a stage in which saturating water vapor is created or injected; a stage in which the plant material is heated to the core by means of electromagnetic waves; a step in which the liquid exudates from said plant material are gravitationally recovered.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preparing a natural resin by liquefying wood, bark, forest residues, wood industry residues, or other biomass using rapid destructive distillation (fast pyrolysis). Fast pyrolysis produces both vapours and char from biomass, and following removal of the char from the product vapours, a liquid pitch product is recovered and processed by distillation, evaporation, or a combination thereof, in order to obtain a natural resin which may be in either liquid or solid form. The natural resin comprises a total phenolic content from about 30% to about 80% (w/w), and is a highly-reactive ligninic compound that has been found to be suitable for use within resin formulations without requiring any further extraction or fractionation procedures. Resins comprising up to 60% natural resin have been prepared and tested in board production and found to exhibit similar properties associated with commercially available resins.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preparing a natural resin by liquefying wood, bark, forest residues, wood industry residues, or other biomass using rapid destructive distillation (fast pyrolysis). Fast pyrolysis produces both vapors and char from biomass, and following removal of the char from the product vapors, a liquid pitch product is recovered and processed by distillation, evaporation, or a combination thereof, in order to obtain a natural resin which may be in either liquid or solid form. The natural resin comprises a total phenolic content from about 30% to about 80% (w/w), and is a highly-reactive ligninic compound that has been found to be suitable for use within resin formulations without requiring any further extraction or fractionation procedures. Resins comprising up to 60% natural resin have been prepared and tested in board production and found to exhibit similar properties associated with commercially available resins.

Abstract: A process for extracting volatile organic compounds and pitch from wood particulates, thereby virtually eliminating the emission of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere during the processing of wood particulates into commercially useful products, such as oriented strandboard, particle board, chipboard veneers, and pulp and paper products. The removal of pitch permits the production of pulps of higher brightness, requiring less chemical bleaching agents. Moreover, removal of pitch eliminates pitch scale formation in pulp mills and on pulp and paper machines with resultant improved efficiencies and reduced use of pitch treatment chemicals. In the extraction process, a solvent or blend of solvents, leach wood extractives, including volatile organic compounds and pitch, from the wood particulates to produce a miscella. The miscella is separated from the leached wood particulates and solvent contained in the miscella is recovered and recycled for reuse.

Abstract: An improvement in enzyme linked immunoassays is disclosed wherein the enzyme is in the form of a water soluble polymer saccharide conjugate which is stable in hostile environments. The conjugate comprises the enzyme which is linked to the polymer at multiple points through saccharide linker groups.

Abstract: This invention is directed to water soluble protein polymer conjugates which are stabile in hostile environments. The conjugate comprises a protein which is linked to an acrylic polymer at multiple points through saccharide linker groups.