Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a carbon material, the method comprising the steps of: providing lignin, providing at least one thermoset resin, contacting lignin with the at least one thermoset resin so as to obtain a lignin-thermoset resin material, curing the lignin-thermoset resin material, and subjecting the cured lignin-thermoset resin material to heat treatment so as to obtain a carbon material. The obtained carbon material is suitable for use as active material in a negative electrode of a secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material. The method involves the steps of providing an agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material comprising lignin and at least one carbon additive; and heating the agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material to obtain the thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material. The invention is also directed to a granular carbon-carbon composite material obtained by heat treatment of the thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an agglomerated lignin-thermoset resin material. The method comprises the steps of providing lignin, providing at least one thermoset resin, forming an agglomerated lignin-thermoset resin material, and curing the agglomerated lignin-thermoset resin material. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a carbon material, comprising heat treatment of the agglomerated lignin-thermoset resin material so as to obtain said carbon material. The obtained carbon material is suitable for use as active material in a negative electrode of a secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to method for producing a carbon material having a sulfur content of less than 0.8 wt %, a BET specific surface area of less than 20 m2/g and an average crystallite size in the direction of the c axis (Lc) of less than 10 ?, as determined using X-ray diffraction. The method comprises the steps of providing a biobased carbon precursor, having a sulfur content in the range of from 1.0 to 5.0 wt %; subjecting the biobased carbon precursor to heat treatment in an inert atmosphere to obtain a carbon material; and subjecting the carbon material to a de-sulfurization treatment in an inert atmosphere comprising a hydrogen gas and/or at least one carbon-containing gas, so as to remove sulfur from the carbon material and obtain a carbon material having a sulfur content of less than 0.8 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing carbon comprising the steps of: providing lignin having a total metal content of less than 200 ppm to heat treatment at one or more temperatures in the range of from 300° C. and 1500° C. to obtain carbon. The present invention also relates to carbon having a total metal content below 800 ppm; a negative electrode for a secondary battery comprising said carbon as active material; and use of said carbon as active material in a negative electrode of a secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying lignin comprising the steps of: providing lignin in solid form, immersing the lignin in an acidic aqueous solution so as to remove metals from the lignin to the acidic aqueous solution and separating purified lignin from the acidic aqueous solution. The present invention also relates to lignin having a total metal content below 200 ppm. The purified lignin disclosed in the present invention may be further processed into carbon enriched materials.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material. The method involves the steps of providing an agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material comprising lignin and at least one carbon additive; and heating the agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material to obtain the thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material. The invention is also directed to a granular carbon-carbon composite material obtained by heat treatment of the thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin-carbon composite material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing an agglomerated lignin-silicon composite material. The method involves the steps of mixing lignin in powder form, at least one silicon-containing active material in powder form and optionally at least one additive; compacting the mixture; and crushing the compacted composite material to obtain an agglomerated lignin-silicon composite material. The invention is also directed to a granular carbon-silicon composite material obtained by heat treatment of the agglomerated lignin-silicon composite material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a carbon-silicon composite material powder, comprising: providing a carbon-containing precursor, which is lignin; providing at least one silicon-containing active material; melt-mixing at least said carbon-containing precursor and said silicon-containing active material(s) to a melt-mixture; providing said melt-mixture in a non-fibrous form and cooling the melt- mixture to provide an isotropic intermediate composite material; subjecting said isotropic intermediate composite material to a thermal treatment, wherein said thermal treatment comprises a carbonization step to provide a carbon-silicon composite material, and subjecting said carbon-silicon composite material to pulverization to provide said carbon-silicon composite material powder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin, which avoids melting and/or significant foaming during subsequent thermal processing. The process comprises the steps of providing agglomerated lignin and heating the agglomerated lignin to obtain thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin. The thermally stabilized lignin can be further processed to a carbon enriched material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to production of granular carbon, prepared from lignin. The process comprises the steps of providing agglomerated lignin, heating the agglomerated lignin to obtain thermally stabilized lignin and subjecting the thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin to heat treatment to obtain granular carbon.