Abstract: A process is provided herein for extracting organic toxic contaminants including pentachlorophenol, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, from wood, e.g., utility poles, fence posts, or railway ties. The process comprises extracting the wood with a supercritical fluid in conjunction with an entrainer having wood swelling properties and an agent to break the hydrogen bond between the organic toxic contaminants and the wood, at conventional supercritical fluid extraction temperatures and pressures. The process is further improved by exposing, either in a slurry of the wood phase, or in a liquid phase resulting from such extraction, the contaminants to UV, e.g., sunlight, in the presence of a photosensitizer. The present invention also provides for the photodegradation of a solution of organic toxic chemicals including pentachlorophenol, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, by exposing such solution to UV, e.g.

Abstract: A process for preparing phenol-formaldehyde resole resins by fractionating organic and aqueous condensates made by fast-pyrolysis of biomass materials while using a carrier gas to move feed into a reactor to produce phenolic-containing/neutrals in which portions of the phenol normally contained in said resins are replaced by a phenolic/neutral fractions extract obtained by fractionation.

Abstract: A process for preparing phenol-formaldehyde novolak resins and molding compositions in which portions of the phenol normally contained in said resins are replaced by a phenol/neutral fractions extract obtained from fractionating fast-pyrolysis oils. The fractionation consists of a neutralization stage which can be carried out with aqueous solutions of bases or appropriate bases in the dry state, followed by solvent extraction with an organic solvent having at least a moderate solubility parameter and good hydrogen bonding capacity.Phenolic compounds-containing/neutral fractions extracts obtained by fractionating fast-pyrolysis oils from a lignocellulosic material, is such that the oil is initially in the pH range of 2-4, being neutralized with an aqueous bicarbonate base, and extracted into a solvent having a solubility parameter of approximately 8.4-9.11 [cal/cm.sup.3 ].sup.1/2 with polar components in the 1.8-3.0 range and hydrogen bonding components in the 2-4.

Abstract: A method for controlling the permeability of a petroleum-bearing subterranean formation including the steps of producing from biomass, a water-insoluble viscous biomass oil, and injecting the biomass oil into the petroleum bearing formation to decrease the permeability of at least some of the formation for altering flow paths through the formation to increase petroleum yield.

Abstract: A process for preparing phenol-formaldehyde resole resins and adhesive compositions in which portions of the phenol normally contained in said resins are replaced by a phenol/neutral fractions extract obtained from fractionating fast-pyrolysis oils.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing water-soluble resin and a resin product made by that method, the method including the steps of supplying a volume of an acidic pyrolysis oil, raising the pH of the oil above 7.0 to partially polymerize the oil, and heating the partially polymerized oil to encourage further polymerization to form the resin product.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fractionating lignocellulosic materials fast-prolysis oils to produce phenol-containing compositions suitable for the manufacture of phenol-formaldehyde resins. The process includes admixing the oils with an organic solvent having at least a moderate solubility parameter and good hydrogenThe United States Government has rights in this invention under Contract No. DE-AC02-83CH10093 between the United States Department of Energy and the Solar Energy Research Institute, a Division of the Midwest Research Institute.

Abstract: Phenols such as cresol, phenol and xylenol etc. are obtained by thermal decomposition of a lignin-containing material in a state of a mixture of the lignin-containing material and a double ring aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.Spent liquid of a solvolysis pulping process can be used as the lignin-containing raw material in the present invention for manufacturing phenols, and the phenols obtained can be utilized as the solvent in the solvolysis process resulting in cost reduction in the pulp production process by self-supplying the necessary solvent in the solvolysis process.

Abstract: Process for purification of technical grade pentachlorophenol by immersing the pentachlorophenol in an aqueous alkaline solution or suspension, separating an insoluble portion from the resultant mixture, dissolving the insoluble portion in an aqueous alkaline solution, treating the solution with active charcoal, removing the active charcoal, adding copper sulfate to the solution, removing the deposit which forms from the solution, and recovering pentachlorophenol from the solution. Alternatively, the steps of treatment with active charcoal and addition of copper sulfate can be reversed.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating alkylated phenols based on differences in their dissociation constants without the consumption of neutralizing acid or base. This is accomplished by selectively reacting the mixed alkylated phenol having the having dissociation constant to the salt form and isolating the salts from the mixture in an aqueous solution. The alkylated phenols are then recovered from the aqueous solution in unreacted form with an organic solvent. Essentially all solvents and solutions can be recycled.

Abstract: A method is described for making adhesive from biomass. A liquefaction oil is prepared from lignin-bearing plant material and a phenolic fraction is extracted therefrom. The phenolic fraction is reacted with formaldehyde to yield a phenol-formaldehyde resin.

Abstract: A method is provided for fractionation of oil obtained by pyrolysis of lignocellulosic materials to obtain useful chemical fractions, including a phenolic fraction which is suitable as a total or partial replacement for phenol in making phenol-formaldehyde resins. The method comprises mixing the oil with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide to a pH level at which the neutral fraction of the oil is selectively soluble in a solvent such as methylene chloride or ether, and the mixture is extracted with the solvent to obtain a first extract containing the solvent and the neutral fraction, and a first raffinate containing the remaining fractions of the oil, i.e., the phenolic fraction, the organic acids fraction and an amorphous residue. The neutral fraction is recovered by distillation and the first raffinate is mixed with sulfuric acid to lower its pH to a level at which the phenolic fraction is selectively soluble in the solvent.

Abstract: A method is provided for fractionation of oil obtained by pyrolysis of lignocellulosic materials to obtain useful chemical fractions, including a phenolic fraction which is suitable as a total or partial replacement for phenol in making phenol-formaldehyde resins. The method comprises mixing the oil with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide to a pH level at which the neutral fraction of the oil is selectively soluble in a solvent such as methylene chloride or ether, and the mixture is extracted with the solvent to obtain a first extract containing the solvent and the neutral fraction, and a first raffinate containing the remaining fractions of the oil, i.e., the phenolic fraction, the organic acids fraction and an amorphous residue. The neutral fraction is recovered by distillation and the first raffinate is mixed with sulfuric acid to lower its pH to a level at which the phenolic fraction is selectively soluble in the solvent.

Abstract: Phenol, ortho-cresol, meta- and para-cresols, guaiacol, vanillin, acetovanillone and other phenols are separated from alkaline pulping spent liquors by extracting the alkaline liquors with a lower aliphatic alcohol having from 2-5 carbon atoms inclusive, separating the solvent and aqueous phases, and thereafter separating the phenols from the solvent phase.