Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the simultaneous extraction of lignin and silica from lignocellulosic plant material, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) fractionating the lignocellulosic plant material in the presence of an acid solution, so as to obtain a solid fraction comprising cellulose, residual lignin and silica; b) extracting simultaneously lignin and silica from the solid fraction obtained in step a) with a basic solution, at a pH between 10 and 13 and at a temperature between 70° C. and 90° C., so as to obtain a liquid phase comprising lignin and silica, and a solid phase; c) separating the liquid phase and of the solid phase obtained in step b), d) coprecipitating a mixture of lignin and silica comprised in the liquid phase, at a pH between 5 and 6.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the extraction of silica from lignocellulosic plant matter, including the steps of: a) fractionating the lignocellulosic plant matter in the presence of an acid solution, so as to obtain a solid fraction including cellulose; b) extracting the silica from the solid fraction obtained in step a) with a basic solution, at a pH between 10 and 13 and at a temperature between 70° C. and 90° C., so as to obtain a liquid phase including silica and a solid phase; c) separating the liquid phase and of the solid phase which are obtained in step b); and d) precipitating the silica which is included in the liquid phase, at a pH between 5 and 6.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol includes steps of pre-treatment of the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material, including the steps consisting in destructuring the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material, then in separating, on the one hand, the cellulose (C6) capable of then being hydrolysed (and fermented for the production of ethanol) and, on the other hand, the hemicelluloses capable of then being hydrolysed and the lignins. The hydrolysis of the cellulose and of the hemicelluloses is then carried out in a sequenced manner according to the following steps consisting in: i) beginning the enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose by at least one enzyme for a first period with a view to obtaining an intermediate hydrolysate; ii) adding hemicelluloses to the intermediate hydrolysate; iii) continuing the enzymatic hydrolysis of the mixture until a final hydrolysate is obtained at the end of a total period of enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of production of lignin and hemicellulose from a plant lignocellulosic material comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a plant lignocellulosic material with an extraction solution during more than 2 hours at a temperature between 95° C. to 110° C., thereby obtaining a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, (b) separating the solid fraction and the liquid fraction, (c) concentrating the liquid fraction so as to obtain a concentrated liquid fraction, (d) mixing equal parts by weight of water with the concentrated liquid fraction so as to obtain a suspension comprising solid particles in suspension in a liquid medium, (e) separating the particles and the medium of said suspension, (f) recovering the particles of said suspension thereby obtaining a fraction comprising lignin called lignified fraction, (g) recovering the medium of said suspension thereby obtaining a fraction comprising hemicellulose called hemicellulosic fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the simultaneous extraction of lignin and silica from lignocellulosic plant material, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) fractionating the lignocellulosic plant material in the presence of an acid solution, so as to obtain a solid fraction comprising cellulose, residual lignin and silica; b) extracting simultaneously lignin and silica from the solid fraction obtained in step a) with a basic solution, at a pH between 10 and 13 and at a temperature between 70° C. and 90° C., so as to obtain a liquid phase comprising lignin and silica, and a solid phase; c) separating the liquid phase and of the solid phase obtained in step b), d) coprecipitating a mixture of lignin and silica comprised in the liquid phase, at a pH between 5 and 6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fungal enzymes, more in particular of polyphenoloxidases (PPOs), and is based on a newly discovered enzymatic activity of a class of PPOs, i.e. de-methylation of R-substituted mono- or di-methoxyphenolsuch as present in lignin, lignin derived compounds and/or in lignocellulosic biomass. This newly discovered enzymatic activity renders these enzymes highly suitable for a plethora of applications in industry. Provided herein are methods of demethylation, processes to increase the reactivity of lignin or lignin-comprising biomass, processes of conversion lignin or lignin comprising biomass to value added products, processes for degrading and/or modifying (hemi-)cellulose in a hemicellulose-comprising substrate, and expression vectors, host cells and liquids, pastes or solid formulations and compositions for use in the demethylation method of the invention.

Abstract: A lignin-phenol-formaldehyde resin, which is obtained by polycondensation of formaldehyde, phenol and lignin in the presence of a basic or acidic catalyst, is characterized in that the lignin is a lignin that is not chemically modified at the available functional groups. This lignin has a low molecular mass and includes available functional groups chosen from the group including aliphatic hydroxyls and phenolic hydroxyls. The degree of substitution by weight of phenol with the lignin is between 50% and 60%. The weight proportion of the lignin and of phenol in the resin is equal to the weight proportion of phenol in a lignin-free phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the extraction of silica from lignocellulosic plant matter, including the steps of: a) fractionating the lignocellulosic plant matter in the presence of an acid solution, so as to obtain a solid fraction including cellulose; b) extracting the silica from the solid fraction obtained in step a) with a basic solution, at a pH between 10 and 13 and at a temperature between 70° C. and 90° C., so as to obtain a liquid phase including silica and a solid phase; c) separating the liquid phase and of the solid phase which are obtained in step b); and d) precipitating the silica which is included in the liquid phase, at a pH between 5 and 6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumer goods product comprising a consumer goods product ingredient and a lignin oligomer, wherein the lignin oligomer: (a) comprises less than 1 wt % sulphur content; (b) has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 800 Da to 1,800 Da; and (c) has a molar ratio of aromatic hydroxyl content to aliphatic hydroxyl content in the range of from 1.2 to 1.9, wherein the consumer goods product ingredient is an emulsifier, and wherein the lignin oligomer is in the form of an emulsion, and wherein the consumer goods product is selected from skin treatment composition, oral care treatment composition, and detergent composition.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol includes steps of pre-treatment of the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material, including the steps consisting in destructuring the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material, then in separating, on the one hand, the cellulose (C6) capable of then being hydrolysed (and fermented for the production of ethanol) and, on the other hand, the hemicelluloses capable of then being hydrolysed and the lignins. The hydrolysis of the cellulose and of the hemicelluloses is then carried out in a sequenced manner according to the following steps consisting in: i) beginning the enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose by at least one enzyme for a first period with a view to obtaining an intermediate hydrolysate; ii) adding hemicelluloses to the intermediate hydrolysate; iii) continuing the enzymatic hydrolysis of the mixture until a final hydrolysate is obtained at the end of a total period of enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: A method for the mechanical reinforcement of elastomer polymers, of a chemically unmodified lignin with available functional groups which has a specific surface area of between 0.5 m2/g and 5 m2/g, and preferably between 1 m2/g and 2.5 m2/g. Also an elastomer thus reinforced, in particular without carbon black.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumer goods product comprising a consumer goods product ingredient and a lignin oligomer, wherein the lignin oligomer: (a) comprises less than 1 wt % sulphur content; (b) has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 800 Da to 1,800 Da; and (c) has a molar ratio of aromatic hydroxyl content to aliphatic hydroxyl content in the range of from 1.2 to 1.9, wherein the consumer goods product ingredient is an emulsifier, and wherein the lignin oligomer is in the form of an emulsion, and wherein the consumer goods product is selected from skin treatment composition, oral care treatment composition, and detergent composition.

Abstract: A lignin-phenol-formaldehyde resin, which is obtained by polycondensation of formaldehyde, phenol and lignin in the presence of a basic or acidic catalyst, is characterized in that the lignin is a lignin that is not chemically modified at the available functional groups. This lignin has a low molecular mass and includes available functional groups chosen from the group including aliphatic hydroxyls and phenolic hydroxyls. The degree of substitution by weight of phenol with the lignin is between 50% and 60%. The weight proportion of the lignin and of phenol in the resin is equal to the weight proportion of phenol in a lignin-free phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin.

Abstract: A process for producing bioethanol includes the steps of pretreatment (consisting in destructuring the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material by placing it in the presence of a mixture containing formic acid, acetic acid and water, then in separating cellulose), of enzymatic hydrolysis and of alcoholic fermentation, characterized in that it includes, prior to the enzymatic hydrolysis, a step of partial elimination of the lignins so as to obtain a residual overall level of lignins (T), expressed as percentage by weight, which is non-zero and which is included in a range determined by a lower limit, and an upper limit Bsup, respectively equal to 0.30% and 4%. In order to obtain conditions of acidification before the enzymatic hydrolysis step, the process includes a step for re-acidification of the mixture, which is carried out with an acid, or of a mixture of acids, of determined pKa, and preferably with weak organic.

Abstract: A process for the separation of lignins and sugars from an extracted liquor, including, in the form of dry matter (DM), lignins and sugars, includes: a) concentrating the extracted liquor, in order to obtain a liquor having dry matter in a proportion of between 60 and 70%; b) mixing the concentrated liquor with water in equal parts by weight; c) stirring the mixture in order to disperse the lignins and to obtain a stable suspending of the lignins; d) filtering the solution, wherein the mixing is carried out by introducing the concentrated liquor into the water; and the temperature of the solution, during the suspending, is between 50° C. and 60° C.

Abstract: A method for the mechanical reinforcement of elastomer polymers, of a chemically unmodified lignin with available functional groups which has a specific surface area of between 0.5 m2/g and 5 m2/g, and preferably between 1 m2/g and 2.5 m2/g. Also an elastomer thus reinforced, in particular without carbon black.

Abstract: A process for pretreating a lignocellulosic plant raw material in order to obtain a pretreated material that is capable of being hydrolyzed and fermented for the production of bioethanol, includes the following successive steps: (i) destructuring the lignocellulosic plant raw material by placing it in the presence of a mixture containing formic acid and water, at a reaction temperature between 95° C. and 110° C.; (ii) then, at atmospheric pressure and prior to any hydrolysis then fermentation action, separating: on the one hand, the solid phase, mainly composed of the cellulose, constituting a first co-substrate, capable of then being hydrolyzed and fermented for the production of bioethanol; and on the other hand, the liquid phase, containing, in particular in aqueous solution, the formic acid, the lignins, and the hemicelluloses, constituting a second co-substrate, capable of then being hydrolyzed and fermented for the production of bioethanol.

Abstract: A process for producing bioethanol includes the steps of pretreatment (consisting in destructuring the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material by placing it in the presence of a mixture containing formic acid, acetic acid and water, then in separating cellulose), of enzymatic hydrolysis and of alcoholic fermentation, characterized in that it includes, prior to the enzymatic hydrolysis, a step of partial elimination of the lignins so as to obtain a residual overall level of lignins (T), expressed as percentage by weight, which is non-zero and which is included in a range determined by a lower limit, and an upper limit Bsup, respectively equal to 0.30% and 4%. In order to obtain conditions of acidification before the enzymatic hydrolysis step, the process includes a step for re-acidification of the mixture, which is carried out with an acid, or of a mixture of acids, of determined pKa, and preferably with weak organic.

Abstract: A process for the separation of lignins and sugars from an extracted liquor, including, in the form of dry matter (DM), lignins and sugars, includes: a) concentrating the extracted liquor, in order to obtain a liquor having dry matter in a proportion of between 60 and 70%; b) mixing the concentrated liquor with water in equal parts by weight; c) stirring the mixture in order to disperse the lignins and to obtain a stable suspending of the lignins; d) filtering the solution, wherein the mixing is carried out by introducing the concentrated liquor into the water; and the temperature of the solution, during the suspending, is between 50° C. and 60° C.

Abstract: The invention proposes an installation (10) in which the impregnation and fractionation of the raw material (MP) are conducted at atmospheric pressure, characterized in that it comprises means (18, 20) for transferring the raw material (MP) successively to a first treatment station (PT1) and a second treatment station (PT2), each comprising means (G1, G2) for temporarily combining, at the first station (PT1), the raw material (MP) with a quantity of a first mixture of organic acids and, at the second station (PT2), for temporarily combining the raw material (MP) with a quantity of a second mixture; and means, after impregnation, for at least partially recovering the quantity of second mixture after impregnation and for recycling at least a portion of the second recovered mixture to form at least partially said first impregnation mixture used at the first station (PT1).