Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a lignin prepolymer, comprising (a) providing a lignin; (b) reacting the lignin with a hydroxyl functionalization reagent to provide a lignin derivative containing at least one hydroxyl group, said hydroxyl group being obtained as a result of the interaction between the lignin and the hydroxyl functionalization reagent (c) reacting the lignin derivative obtained in step (b) with a functionalization reagent selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid derivatives and mixtures thereof capable to react with the lignin derivative resulting in a covalent bond between the fatty acid and/or or the fatty acid derivative and the lignin derivative.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic regeneration of the redox cofactors NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH in a one-pot reaction, wherein, as a result of at least two further enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions proceeding in the same reaction batch (product-forming reactions), one of the two redox cofactors accumulates in its reduced form and, respectively, the other one in its oxidized form, characterized in that a) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the reduced cofactor into its original oxidized form, oxygen or a compound of general formula R1C(O)COOH is reduced, and b) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the oxidized cofactor into its original reduced form, a compound of general formula R2CH(OH)R3 is oxidized and wherein R1, R2 and R3 in the compounds have different meanings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of D-glucose. The process according to the invention comprises a step a) in which part of the D-glucose is enzymatically oxidized to D-gluconic acid (lactone) and a portion of the D-glucose which is essentially equimolar thereto is reduced to D-sorbitol. In addition to D-glucose, D-fructose is also present in the reaction mixture of step a). The process comprises a further step b) in which D-sorbitol formed from the D-glucose in step a) is enzymatically oxidized to D-fructose.

Abstract: A process for converting a sugar from a hemicellulose-containing material into the form of a compound having at least one ionic binding site, which is characterized in that the hemicellulose-containing material is hydrolyzed enzymatically or non-enzymatically and the obtained hydrolysate is subjected to a conversion involving at least one enzymatic step, wherein sugars are released and the released sugars are converted into compounds having at least one ionic binding site, and the use of such a process.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic regeneration of the redox cofactors NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH in a one-pot reaction, wherein, as a result of at least two further enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions proceeding in the same reaction batch (product-forming reactions), one of the two redox cofactors accumulates in its reduced form and, respectively, the other one in its oxidized form, characterized in that a) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the reduced cofactor into its original oxidized form, oxygen or a compound of general formula R1C(O)COOH is reduced, and b) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the oxidized cofactor into its original reduced form, a compound of general formula R2CH(OH)R3 is oxidized and wherein R1, R2 and R3 in the compounds have different meanings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) via oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF), said HMF being present in a solution in a high-boiling polar solvent and water. The process is characterized by the combination of —a first oxidation step wherein the HMF is at least partly oxidized in said solution to yield a first reaction mixture comprising at least one monoacid selected from the group consisting of -hydroxymethylfuran-2-carboxylic acid (HMFA), 5-formylfuran-2-carboxylic acid (FFCA) and, optionally, FDCA —an extraction step after the first oxidation step wherein said high-boiling polar solvent is extracted from said first reaction mixture by means of an extraction solvent, wherein said at least one monoacid remains in an aqueous phase, —a second oxidation step wherein said at least one monoacid is oxidized to FDCA.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the isomerization of glucose by reduction to sorbitol and subsequent oxidation to fructose, in which the redox cofactors NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH are regenerated in a one-pot-reaction, wherein one of the two redox cofactors is obtained in the reduced form thereof and the other redox cofactor in the oxidized form thereof as a result of at least two additional enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions (product forming reactions) taking place in the same reaction batch, wherein a) in the regeneration reaction, which transfers the reduced cofactor back to its originally oxidized form, oxygen or a compound of the general formula R1C(O)COOH is reduced, and b) in the regeneration reaction, which transfers the oxidized cofactor back to its originally reduced form, a compound of the general formula R2CH(OH)R3 is oxidized, wherein R1, R2 and R3 have different meanings in the compounds, characterized in that a mixture of glucose and fructose is used as a starting material.

Abstract: A method for the enzymatic production of D-fructose from D-glucose in a one-pot synthesis, wherein D-glucose is oxidized enzymatically to D-glucosone and D-glucosone is reduced enzymatically to D-fructose and the use of the D-fructose produced in this way for the production of furan derivatives.

Abstract: A method for the isolation of lignin from a lignocellulosic biomass, comprising providing a lignocellulosic biomass; extracting sugar free lignin from the lignocellulosic biomass by contacting said biomass with an organic aqueous solution comprising water and at least one water miscible organic solvent, either discontinuously or continuously, whereby a biomass-solvent suspension is formed; separating the sugar free lignin solution from the biomass-solvent suspension to obtain a sugar free lignin solution and a cellulosic material enriched with lignin carbohydrate complexes and hemicellulose, and optionally isolating sugar free lignin from the sugar free lignin solution; extracting the lignin carbohydrate complexes from the cellulosic material enriched with lignin carbohydrate complexes and hemicellulose by contacting said cellulosic material with a liquid comprising at least water, whereby treated biomass suspension is formed; separating the lignin carbohydrate complexes solution from said treated biomass sus

Abstract: A process for the production of carbohydrate cleavage products, characterized by a combination of the measures that a lignocellulosic material is treated with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol, in particular a C1-4-alcohol or a phenol, and having a pH-value of between 11.0 and 14.0 in order to cleave lignocellulose and separate cleavage products from the material, whereby a material enriched with cellulose and hemicellulose is obtained, and the obtained material enriched with cellulose and hemicellulose is treated with at least one carbohydrate-cleaving enzyme in order to obtain the carbohydrate cleavage products.

Abstract: A process for the production of carbohydrate cleavage products, characterized by a combination of the measures that a lignocellulosic material is treated with an aqueous solution containing an alcohol, in particular a C1-4-alcohol or a phenol, and having a pH-value of between 11.0 and 14.0 in order to cleave lignocellulose and separate cleavage products from the material, whereby a material enriched with cellulose and hemicellulose is obtained, and the obtained material enriched with cellulose and hemicellulose is treated with at least one carbohydrate-cleaving enzyme in order to obtain the carbohydrate cleavage products.

Abstract: A process for the production of furan derivatives from D-glucose, wherein A) D-glucose is converted into D-fructose in an enzymatic process, wherein redox cofactors are used and regenerated, whereby, as a result of at least two further enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions proceeding in the same reaction batch, one of the two redox cofactors accumulates in its reduced form and, respectively, the other one in its oxidized form, whereby D-glucose is converted into D-fructose, involving two or more oxidoreductases, and B) D-fructose is converted into furan derivatives, and the use of furan derivatives produced in this manner.

Abstract: A method for working up an aqueous, alkaline-alcoholic and lignin containing solution via nanofiltration, wherein a permeate and a retentate are obtained, which permeate is an aqueous, lignin-starved solution and which retentate is an aqueous lignin-enriched solution.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic regeneration of the redox cofactors NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH in a one-pot reaction, wherein, as a result of at least two further enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions proceeding in the same reaction batch (product-forming reactions), one of the two redox cofactors accumulates in its reduced form and, respectively, the other one in its oxidized form, characterized in that a) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the reduced cofactor into its original oxidized form, oxygen or a compound of general formula R1C(O)COOH is reduced, and b) in the regeneration reaction which reconverts the oxidized cofactor into its original reduced form, a compound of general formula R2CH(OH)R3 is oxidized and wherein R1, R2 and R3 in the compounds have different meanings.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of lignin from lignocellulosic material by pulping with alcohol, in particular with a C1-4 alcohol, water and a base, in particular NaOH, at a temperature below 100° C., in particular from 40° C. to 90° C., in particular from 50° C. to 70° C., characterized in that 3 to 12 parts of base, in particular 4 to 10 parts of base, in particular preferable 5 to 8 parts of base, are used per 100 parts of the dry lignocellulosic material to be pulped.

Abstract: A process for the production of furan derivatives from carbohydrates in the presence of an acidic catalyst, characterized in that N-methylpyrrolidone is used as a solvent and that the acidic catalyst is homogeneous.

Abstract: A method for the enzymatic production of D-fructose from D-glucose in a one-pot synthesis, wherein D-glucose is oxidized enzymatically to D-glucosone and D-glucosone is reduced enzymatically to D-fructose and the use of the D-fructose produced in this way for the production of furan derivatives.

Abstract: A method for producing lignin derivatives from technical lignins by treatment with proteolytic enzymes (proteases), characterized in that the proteolytic treatment of the technical lignins significantly reduces the molar mass thereof.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an aqueous solution of an alkali acetate from lignocellulose, wherein lignocellulose is treated with a first aqueous extraction solution having a pH value in the range of 12 to 14 and a content of a C1-4 alcohol, in particular ethanol or isopropanol, in the range of 40% to 90%, in particular of from 75% to 85%, whereby a first aqueous solution of an alkali acetate is obtained, and wherein said first solution of an alkali acetate is used to treat additional lignocellulose in order to enrich additional acetate in said first solution.

Abstract: A method for the production of cellulose having a low lignin content characterized by a combination of the measures that a) a lignocellulosic material is treated with an aqueous solution comprising a C1-6-alcohol and having a pH from 10 to 14 at a temperature of below 100° C., whereupon the aqueous solution, in which lignin split off from the lignocellulose is present in dissolved form, is separated from the solid which represents a material enriched with cellulose and hemicellulose, b) hemicellulose is removed from the material of a) enriched with cellulose and hemicellulose, c) the material obtained in b), which is hemicellulose depleted, is treated with an alkali sulfite, an alkaline earth sulfite or ammonium sulfite, in particular Na2SO3 and/or with oxygen in aqueous alkaline solution, whereby lignin dissolves and cellulose having a low lignin content is obtained; as well as cellulose which can be produced by the method.