Abstract: A process is presented for the production of high value chemicals from lignin. The process comprises combining several internal steps to use the hydrogen generated by the process, rather than adding an external source of hydrogen. The process can combine the decomposition of oxygenates formed during the deoxygenation process with hydrogenation of deoxygenated lignin compounds.

Abstract: Processes for conversion of lignin to products such as phenolic compounds and biofuels prepared from such phenolic compounds are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking.

Abstract: Processes for conversion of lignin to liquid products such as bio-fuels and fuel additives are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking.

Abstract: A feedstock originating from renewable sources is converted to branched and saturated hydrocarbons without heteroatoms in the diesel fuel distillation range by skeletal isomerisation and deoxygenation carried out by hydrodeoxygenation or alternatively by combined decarboxylation and decarbonylation reactions, whereby the consumption of hydrogen is decreased.

Abstract: Multifunctional liquid phase carriers (LPCs) and methods of using LPCs for the preparation of biopolymers are provided. The LPCs are highly symmetrical compounds that possess more than two points of attachment for biopolymer synthesis. The LPCs have the formula Sp(X1)n, where Sp is a highly symmetrical moiety such that all X1 groups are equivalent. X1 is a functional group that is suitable for biopolymer synthesis, including OH, SH, NH2, COOH and the like. Biopolymers that may be produced using the methods provided include oligonucleotides, peptides, protein nucleic acids (PNAs) and oligosaccharides. Analogs of the biopolymers may also be prepared using the methods.

Abstract: Multifunctional liquid phase carriers (LPCs) and methods of using LPCs for the preparation of biopolymers are provided. The LPCs are highly symmetrical compounds that possess more than two points of attachment for biopolymer synthesis. The LPCs have the formula Sp(X1)n, where Sp is a highly symmetrical moiety such that all X1 groups are equivalent. X1 is a functional group that is suitable for biopolymer synthesis, including OH, SH, NH2, COOH and the like. Biopolymers that may be produced using the methods provided include oligonucleotides, peptides, protein nucleic acids (PNAs) and oligosaccharides. Analogs of the biopolymers may also be prepared using the methods.

Abstract: A process for converting lignin into high-quality reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline compositions in high yields is disclosed. The process is a two-stage, catalytic reaction process that produces a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product with a controlled amount of aromatics. In the first stage, a lignin material is subjected to a base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction in the presence of a supercritical alcohol as a reaction medium, to thereby produce a depolymerized lignin product. In the second stage, the depolymerized lignin product is subjected to a sequential two-step hydroprocessing reaction to produce a reformulated hydrocarbon gasoline product. In the first hydroprocessing step, the depolymerized lignin is contacted with a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst to produce a hydrodeoxygenated intermediate product.

Abstract: A process for preparing lower olefins from a hydrocarbon feed having at least a fraction boiling above the boiling point range of the lower olefins, which process includes thermal cracking of the hydrocarbon feed, wherein at least part of the hydrocarbon feed is a hydroprocessed synthetic oil fraction. The hydroprocessed synthetic oil fraction may be prepared by hydrogenation and/or hydroconversion and/or hydrocracking of a synthetic oil fraction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step method for separating isobutylene from a C-4 hydrocarbon fraction comprising:a) Reacting the C-4 fraction with a glycol in the presence of an acidic montmorillonite catalyst at a temperature of about 60.degree. to 160.degree. C. to yield the corresponding glycol mono-t-butyl ether, and subsequentlyb) reacting the intermediate glycol ether product over the same class of catalyst at a temperature of about 100.degree. to 220.degree. C. to regenerate the isolatable isobutylene.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methane to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. In a first step, methane is contacted with carbonyl sulfide in the presence of UV light under conditions sufficient to produce CH.sub.3 SH. This CH.sub.3 SH then contacted with a sufficient catalyst, such as a zeolite, especially ZSM-5, under conditions sufficient to produce hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms.