Abstract: A process for preparing salts of acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (A) using the steps of: preparing a solution of a contaminated salt of acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid (A) in an anhydrous organic solvent (L) using at least one basic component (B) selected from the group of alkali metal oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides and amines of the formula (I) NRaRbRc??(I) where the Ra, Rb and Rc radicals are each independently: hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, hydroxy-C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkoxy, where the molar ratio of compound (A) to the basic component (B) is 1:1 to 1:3, recovering the dissolved salt of compound (A) by crystallization or by precipitation, by altering the temperature and/or the pressure and/or the concentration of the salt in the solution. This leads to salts which are low in by-products and are particularly suitable for polymerization.

Abstract: A method for producing chemically modified lignin decomposition products. To this end, a lignin-containing starting material is decomposed into low-molecular and high-molecular lignin decomposition products under acid conditions in the presence of a liquid medium, and the low-molecular lignin decomposition products are at least largely separated in order to obtain a high-molecular fraction. Subsequently, the high-molecular lignin decomposition products present in the high-molecular fraction are converted into chemically modified lignin decomposition products. The chemically modified lignin decomposition products obtained in this way can be used, for example, as dispersing agents, complexing agents, phenol component, flocculant, thickener or auxiliary agents for cementous systems, coatings, paints or adhesives.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the direct production of molecules with a minimum molecular weight of 78 g/mol by the breakdown of lignin, lignin derivatives, lignin fragments, and/or lignin-containing substances or mixtures in the presence of at least one polyoxometallate and preferably in the presence of a radical scavenger in a liquid medium.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the direct production of molecules with a minimum molecular weight of 78 g/mol by the breakdown of lignin, lignin derivatives, lignin fragments, and/or lignin-containing substances or mixtures in the presence of at least one polyoxometallate and preferably in the presence of a radical scavenger in a liquid medium.