Abstract: A process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock, said process comprising the steps of: providing said lignocellulosic feedstock; providing a composition comprising; an acid; a modifying agent selected from the group consisting of: sulfamic acid; imidazole; imidazole derivatives; taurine; a taurine derivative; a taurine-related compound; alkylsulfonic acid; arylsulfonic acid; triethanolamine; and combinations thereof; a peroxide salt; and a peroxide; exposing said lignocellulosic feedstock to said composition for a period of time sufficient to depolymerize substantially all of the lignin present in said lignocellulosic feedstock into lignin oligomers and lignin monomers; wherein said process is carried out at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the conversion of cellulosic waste material into a recycled cellulose product comprising the steps of cooking the waste material in a cooking liquor to remove lignin from the waste material and provide a delignified pulp, dissolving the delignified pulp in an ionic liquid to provide a spinning dope suitable for dry jet-wet spinning in an ionic liquid solution, and subjecting the spinning dope to a further processing step to provide a recycled cellulose product, said further step selected from the group of spinning cellulose fibers for use in textiles from the solution, extruding a film product for use in packaging, regenerating the dope as a hydrogel and regenerating the dope as an aerogel.

Abstract: A method for separating cellulose from a wood-based raw material including hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin as principal components, includes injecting the wood-based raw material into a dissolution reservoir in which ethylene glycol is stored as a separating agent, and heating the separating agent in the dissolution reservoir at atmospheric pressure to a temperature in a range of 260° C. to 280° C., and reacting the wood-based raw material with the separating agent, evaporating a hemicellulose component from the separating agent and condensing the hemicellulose component, and monitoring a pH value of the condensate of the hemicellulose component. A temperature of the condensate is held at the temperature at which a change in the pH value of the condensate decreases, lignin is dissolved in the separating agent, and crude cellulose that floats in the separating agent is separated and collected.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting biomass to fuels and/or valuable chemicals. The process comprises the steps of a) activating biomass to make it more susceptible to conversion; c) partially converting the biomass to a solubilized material; and d) subjecting the unconverted biomass to a second conversion step. The process optionally comprises a step b) of adding a solvent to the activated biomass. In a preferred embodiment the solubilized biomass obtained in step c) is removed before the unconverted biomass is subjected to step d).

Abstract: A pretreatment composition and pretreatment process utilizing the composition is described. The pretreatment composition includes an aqueous organic solvent in combination with an alkaline component and an oxidizing agent. The pretreatment composition is useful for treating biomass as may be utilized in forming biofuel, paper, or other useful products. The biomass to be treated can include cellulosic biomass, lignocellulosic biomass, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for the production water insoluble reactive lignin having low sulfur content and lignosulfonates from lignocellulosic material in a batch or continuous process. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated to produce water insoluble native lignin and lignosulfonates in various ratios, while preserving the cellulose and hydrolyzed hemicelluloses using water, ethanol and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling organic contaminants, such as xylans, pitch or both, that interfere with bleaching of fibers and/or cause other interference(s) in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers before any bleaching thereof with a composition which contains a hemicellulolytic enzyme and an organic contaminant removal adjuvant to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. The treated fibers can then be bleached and further used, for example, in making paper. The present invention also relates to the treatment compositions and to paper products made with fiber materials treated with these compositions. A method of enhancing enzymatic degradation of a substrate as well as formulations and systems for achieving the same are also provided. Various substrates can be degraded or otherwise processed, including biomass, paper mill sludge, and animal hides. Enzymatic degradation can be enhanced by including one or more polymeric surfactants.

Abstract: A method for treating a cellulosic material comprising extracting the cellulosic material with an extractant to selectively extract hemicellulose therein and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulosic material. The extractant comprises an amine oxide and a non-solvent. The cellulosic product retains the cellulosic fiber morphology.

Abstract: A method for treating a cellulosic material comprising extracting the cellulosic material with an extractant to selectively extract hemicellulose therein and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulosic material. The extractant comprises an amine oxide and a non-solvent. The cellulosic product retains the cellulosic fiber morphology.

Abstract: A method for the production water insoluble reactive lignin having low sulfur content and lignosulfonates from lignocellulosic material in a batch or continuous process. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated to produce water insoluble native lignin and lignosulfonates in various ratios, while preserving the cellulose and hydrolyzed hemicelluloses using water, ethanol and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a cross-linked glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a high stress environment. In addition, it is more soluble in the harsh condition than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: A method comprising: (a) providing a lignocellulosic substrate; (b) contacting said lignocellulosic substrate with an extractant comprising a water-soluble organic solvent to form an extracted substrate and a miscella; (c) removing miscella from said extracted substrate; and (d) hydrolyzing said extracted substrate using a chemically catalyzed process.

Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in a batch or continuous process in a treatment with vaporous mixture of aliphatic alcohol, sulfur dioxide and water. Cooking conditions are varied to get different proportions of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Chemical recovery through pressure release is described.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition and method for improving a mechanical pulping process by decreasing freeness and amount of shives, providing energy and chemical savings, and enhancing brightness and mechanical strength of a paper product made from a pulp material in the process. The composition includes formulations, such as surfactants, chelants, hydrotropes, reductive and oxidative pulp modifiers, and pH-controlling chemicals. The method includes selectively introducing these formulations to the pulp material in the mechanical pulping process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining cellulose by separating lignin from a biomass comprising lignocellulose in the form of plants or plant parts, wherein the biomass comprising lignocellulose is solubilized in a boiler in an alkaline medium comprising alkanol amine, and dissolved lignin is separated from the resulting raw cellulose. Said method is characterized in that the biomass comprising lignocellulose is not from a wood source, and is solubilized at a temperature of less than approximately 170° C. in a solubilizing agent based on alkanol amine and water, wherein the weight ratio of alkanol amine to water is set to 80:20 to 20:80, and raw cellulose thus produced is separated from the waste lye using a typical method. Said method is particularly advantageous for obtaining cellulose from annual plants, particularly wheat straw. The method is advantageously improved in that the solubilization takes place in the presence of a catalyst, particularly of anthrachinon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an MDF board from pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid or oxalic acid derivatives (particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase). The treated wood is then subjected to a sugar extraction wash and refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product. Once this is done the pulp is used to make MDF boards having improved water repellency properties.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material or source using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid derivatives, particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase. Once treated, the material may be refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product and the production of the product is accompanied by strength increases in paper made from the pulp and energy savings in making the pulp, hi addition the treatment or pretreatment produces a soluble carbohydrate source and other components (e.g. acetic acid, other wood components) for further product development. In certain cases a pulp product is not produced and all of the carbohydrate present in the lignocellulose is converted into soluble sugars.

Abstract: A process for refining and producing cellulose, lignin and xylose from biomass material comprises the following steps: pulverizing and screening the biomass material; and then dipping the biomass material in organic acid with lower boiling point and decomposing it into xylose, xylo-oligosaccharide, cellulose and lignin to make the biomass material fluidify; cooling the fluidified biomass material after finishing the reaction, adding organic solvent, and mixing uniformly and standing; separating, washing and drying the precipitation to obtain amorphous cellulose after precipitating; distilling the mother solution of precipitation of cellulose and recovering the organic acid and the resulting volatile organic substance; standing the distilled mother solution after cooling, and then separating, washing and drying the precipitation to obtain xylose and xylo-oligosaccharide after precipitating; distilling and recovering the organic solvent in the mother solution of precipitation of xylose and xylo-oligosaccharide,

Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in a batch or continuous process in a treatment with vaporous mixture of aliphatic alcohol, sulfur dioxide and water. Cooking conditions are varied to get different proportions of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Chemical recovery through pressure release is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the conversion of solid biomass to liquid fuels and specialty chemicals. The process utilizes an activating step to make the biomass more susceptible to conversion, that is the biomass is broken down such that the components of the biomass are dissociated. Subsequently, the activated biomass undergoes a reaction to convert it to a bio-oil.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The method involves: adding a liphohydrophilic glycerol-based polymer additive to a solution used in the digestion process. This additive is unexpectedly effective at facilitating digestion. The branched and ether structure of the additive allows it to withstand the harsh nature of a highly alkaline environment. In addition, it is more soluble in high pH than other surfactants. The structure, resistance, and particular balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, causes the additive to increases the interaction between the wood chips and the digestion chemicals. This in turn reduces the costs, the amount of additive needed, and the amount of reject wood chunks that result from the digestion process.

Abstract: Improvements in a process for rapid acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material and in a hydrolysis reactor, said lignocellulosic material being fed in different levels of a reactor and contacted with flows of lignin organic solvent, water and an extremely dilute solution of a strong inorganic acid, for obtaining a liquid phase of hydrolysis extract and a solid phase of non-reacted and non-dissolved material. A controlled steam flow is injected into the different levels of the reactor, so as to provide adequate temperatures of organic solvent and strong inorganic acid and forming the desired products (sugars). A flow of the liquid phase is recirculated in different levels of the reactor, the remainder thereof being withdrawn from the reactor, abruptly cooled with the solvent submitted to evaporation to obtain a concentrate. The lignin is transferred by decantation and the concentrate is transferred to subsequent process steps.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods that involve ionic liquids and biomass. Multiphasic compositions involving ionic liquids and a polymer and uses of such compositions for fractioning various components of biomass are disclosed. Methods of making and using compositions comprising an ionic liquid, biomass, and a catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes of delignifying lignocellulose-containing material, wherein the lignocellulose-containing material is treated with a delignification catalyst and a lignin solubilizing agent.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition and method for improving a mechanical pulping process by decreasing freeness and amount of shives, providing energy and chemical savings, and enhancing brightness and mechanical strength of a paper product made from a pulp material in the process. The composition includes formulations, such as surfactants, chelants, hydrotropes, reductive and oxidative pulp modifiers, and pH-controlling chemicals. The method includes selectively introducing these formulations to the pulp material in the mechanical pulping process.

Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass comprising lignin is treated by selective extraction and oxidation of lignin using a solvent solution comprising water in combination with at least one Mn(III) salt to produce readily saccharifiable carbohydrate enriched biomass.

Abstract: The catonized sizes poly vinyl alcohol and hydroxy celluloses are used in the manufacture of wet chop to improve product quality, cut cost and reduce the expenses incurred disposing of whitewater.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process to break down lignin macromolecules and liberating cellulose fibers in lignocellulosic material using delignifying reactants with a gaseous organic agent as a heating and reaction-accelerating media. Lignocellulosic material is first impregnated with reactant chemicals, e.g. commonly used agents such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. Subsequently, the energy required for the delignification reactions is provided through heating with a gaseous organic agent such as methanol or ethanol, condensing and releasing energy to the solid lignocellulosic material. The temperature during the heating step with a gaseous organic agent is higher than the temperature during the impregnation step.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition and method for improving a mechanical pulping process by decreasing freeness and amount of shives, providing energy and chemical savings, and enhancing brightness and mechanical strength of a paper product made from a pulp material in the process. The composition includes formulations, such as surfactants, chelants, hydrotropes, reductive and oxidative pulp modifiers, and pH-controlling chemicals. The method includes selectively introducing these formulations to the pulp material in the mechanical pulping process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for delignifying lignocellulosic raw materials by using sulfites in the presence of an alkaline component, especially sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate or a mixture thereof in an aqueous solution at a high temperature and high pressure. The invention is characterized in that a first partial fragment of the alkaline component is added when the aqueous solution starts to decompose and in that at least a second partial fragment of the alkaline component is added only when delignification begins.

Abstract: This invention is a method of reducing the resin content of chemical pulps comprising heating wood chips in an aqueous alkaline medium in the presence of an effective deresinating amount of an alkyl alcohol alkoxylate of formula RO[(CH2CHCH3O)x(CH2CH2O)y]M wherein R is C4 to C40 alkyl; x is 1–50; y is 0–100 and M is H or an alkali metal, a cooking liquor comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite and the alkyl alcohol alkoxylate and a deresinated pulp prepared according to the method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for pulp bleaching. The method comprises the steps of providing a pulp sample for bleaching, the pulp sample stemming from a pulp producing process, providing a bleaching liquor comprising water and an organic component as solvent components constituting a bleaching medium, dissolved within are at least a bleaching agent, and a basic agent; and subjecting the pulp sample to the bleaching liquor for a predefined amount of time at predefined bleaching conditions. A preferred bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide. The organic component amounts to at least 5% in weight of the bleaching medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for delignifying lignocellulosic raw materials by using sulfites in the presence of an alkaline component, especially sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate or a mixture thereof in an aqueous solution at a high temperature and high pressure. The invention is characterized in that a first partial fragment of the alkaline component is added when the aqueous solution starts to decompose and in that at least a second partial fragment of the alkaline component is added only when delignification begins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for pulp bleaching. The method comprises the steps of providing a pulp sample for bleaching, the pulp sample stemming from a pulp producing process, providing a bleaching liquor comprising water and an organic component as solvent components constituting a bleaching medium, dissolved within are at least a bleaching agent, and a basic agent; and subjecting the pulp sample to the bleaching liquor for a predefined amount of time at predefined bleaching conditions. A preferred bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide. The organic component amounts to at least 5% in weight of the bleaching medium.

Abstract: A method to enhance brightness in Chemical and Mechanical pulps comprising adding an organic sulfide chelant is described and claimed.

Abstract: A substantially sulfur free process for the manufacturing of a chemical pulp with an integrated recovery system for recovery of pulping chemicals is carried out on in several stages involving physical and chemical treatment of lignocellulosic material in order to increase accessibility of the lignocellulosic material to reactions with an oxygen-based delignification agent. Spent cellulose liquor comprising lignin components and spent chemical reagents is fully or partially oxidized in a gas generator wherein a stream of hot raw gas and a stream of alkaline chemicals and chemical reagents is formed for subsequent recycle and reuse in the pulp manufacturing process.

Abstract: Separation of dissolved and colloidal high molecular weight organic by-products from liquors or filtrates in a cellulosic pulping process to improve the overall efficiency of the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for digesting woodchips used in papermaking. The process employs digester additive, which comprises a sultaine or mixtures of a sultaine with a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of (a) polyglycosides, (b) polyoxyalkylene glycols, and (c) mixtures thereof as digester additives. The digester additives are compatible and stable at elevated temperatures in the highly alkaline white liquor used in the digestion of woodchips into pulp. The invention also relates to the digester additive compositions.

Abstract: A process for producing paper and absorbent products of increased strength includes extracting wood particulates with a solvent selected from methanol, ethanol, and acetone at a pressure less than 50 psi to reduce the pitch and volatile organic compounds of the particulates without significant dissolution of lignin and cellulosic components. The wood particulates are pulped to produce a pulp with reduced pitch content. A slurry is prepared from the pulp and used to form paper products.

Abstract: A method of dewatering an aqueous cellulosic pulp slurry comprising adding to an aqueous slurry of washed cellulosic pulp an effective dewatering amount of a mixture of one or more nonionic surfactants and one or more anionic surfactants.

Abstract: This invention is a method of reducing the resin content of chemical pulps comprising heating wood chips in an aqueous alkaline medium in the presence of an effective deresinating amount of an alkyl alcohol alkoxylate of formula RO[(CH2CHCH3O)x(CH2CH2O)y]M wherein R is C4 to C40 alkyl; x is 1-50; y is 0-100 and M is H or an alkali metal, a cooking liquor comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite and the alkyl alcohol alkoxylate and a deresinated pulp prepared according to the method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of treating a lignocellulosic material to produce bio-ethanol. The process includes the steps of: (a) exposing the ligno-cellulosic material to conditions including a pH not less than about 8, and steam at a first pressure, to produce a step (a) product; (b) explosively discharging the step (a) product to a second pressure less than the first pressure-to produce a step (b) product; and (c) further processing the step (b) product to produce bio-ethanol and other co-products. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a conical auger fractionation column. The fractionation column includes a column body having an input and an output. A conical filter is positioned inside the column body, the filter having a larger diameter end directed toward the input and a smaller diameter end directed toward the output.

Abstract: Polynuclear compounds dissolved and contained within an organic solvent are separated from the organic solvent by rendering the organic compounds insoluble within the organic solvent. Accordingly this invention removes polynuclear compounds from a saturated organic solvent. The polynuclear compounds are derived from black liquor obtained from kraft digestion. Whereby polynuclear compounds, substantially free of an organic solvent, are obtained from the organic solvent.

Abstract: A paper stock with at least one side dyed or tinted such that each side has a different color or shade to provide an indication of any erasures on the dyed or tinted side of the paper. Machinery and systems are disclosed for practicing the method of making the inventive paper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for digesting woodchips used in papermaking. The process employs a digester additive, which is a mixture of (a) a polyglycoside, and (b) a polyoxyalkylene glycol. The digester additives are compatible and stable at elevated temperatures in the highly alkaline white liquor used in the digestion of wood chips into pulp. The invention also relates to the digester additive compositions.

Abstract: A continuous pulp digester having an elongate horizontally aligned pressure vessel through which the wood chips and digesting fluid flow in a forward direction. In a first and second embodiments within the pressure vessel there is an inner container defining an elongate chamber or passageway having a square cross sectional configuration. In a third embodiment the digesting chamber is cylindrical. At locations along the digester, there are several pair of liquid flow inlets and liquid flow outlets which enable filtrate from a pulp washer and a digesting agent to be moved into and across the digesting chamber to flow out the flow outlets. These are recirculated in a net upstream flow pattern toward the outlet end of the digester, and discharged as black liquor at different locations in the digester.

Abstract: A chemical wood pulping process having reduced volatile organic compound emissions includes extracting wood particulates with solvent at a pressure less than 50 psi to reduce naturally-occurring particulate pitch and volatile organic compound content without significant dissolution of lignin and wood cellulosic components. The solvent used is methanol, ethanol, or acetone. This is followed by comingling the extracted wood particulates with a liquor having chemical reactants, not including the solvent used to extract the wood particulates, for solubilizing lignin. Then, allowing the chemical reactants of the liquor to react with lignin contained in the extracted wood particulates under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure for a sufficient time to solubilize and remove lignin. This is followed by producing a wood pulp having individual cellulosic fibers while releasing a reduced amount of VOCs in the wood pulping process.

Abstract: A paper product having a mass of cellulosic fibers produced from wood, where the fibers have a pitch content reduced by at least about 40% as compared to an expected pitch content based on naturally-occurring levels of pitch in the wood is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of furfural, furfuryl alcohol, low molecular weight phenols and/or cellulose or a cellulose-rich material from a lignocellulosic material comprising: feeding a carrier gas into a reaction chamber to facilitate a fluidised bed effect and to carry reaction products and residues away from the reactor via entrainment; introducing a feedstock comprising particulate lignocellulosic material of a predetermined particle size into the reaction chamber; degrading the feedstock in the reaction chamber under an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of from 250° C. to 320° C.; and quenching the degraded feedstock and carrier gas to deposit solid residue entrained in the carrier gas and to condense a liquid product.

Abstract: A composition comprising an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity and an enzyme enhancing agent, also referred to as a mediator, is disclosed. A process for oxidizing a substrate that comprises treating the substrate with a composition comprising an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity and an enzyme enhancing agent is disclosed. The process when used on lignin-containing material bleaches the lignin-containing material. A process for enhancing the activity of an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity that comprises adding an enzyme enhancing agent to the enzyme is also disclosed.