Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing novel lignin derivatives, which comprises using a lignophenol derivative containing a diphenylpropane unit formed by binding a carbon atom at an ortho-position relative to a phenolic hydroxyl group of a phenol derivative to a carbon atom at a benzyl-position of a phenylpropane fundamental unit of lignin, and binding an oxygen atom of the hydroxyl group and a &bgr;-positional carbon atom under alkali conditions under which the hydroxyl group can dissociate, to obtain an arylcoumaran derivative containing an arylcoumaran unit in which a coumaran skeleton is bound to an aromatic ring of lignin.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate product for manufacturing polymers of lignin derivatives from the pulp industry, made by treating the lignin derivatives with phenol oxidizing enzymes in the presence of oxidation agents, characterized in that the lignin derivatives are (a) subjected to enzyme treatment for more than 3 hours in the presence of air, or (b) subjected to enzyme treatment for more than 10 minutes while air or oxygen is being passed through them, or (c) oxidized by treatment with chemical oxidation agents. The intermediate product is used in manufacturing polymers of lignin derivatives from the pulp industry, fiber-reinforced thermosetting composite materials from plant fibers, waterproof papers and cardboards, and thermosetting plastics from lignin derivatives.

Abstract: A method of making surfactants from lignin is disclosed by reducing lignin in the presence of a metal oxide or iron based catalyst in an organic hydrogen donor solvent to produce lignin phenol and subjecting the lignin phenol to one or a combination of several reactions such as alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, and sulfomethylation. The lignin surfactants so produced can be employed in a surfactant system to recover oil from underground formations.

Abstract: A method of making surfactants from lignin is disclosed by reducing lignin in the presence of a metal oxide or iron based catalyst in an organic hydrogen donor solvent to produce lignin phenol and subjecting the lignin phenol to one or a combination of several reactions such as alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, and sulfomethylation. The lignin surfactants so produced can be employed in a surfactant system to recover oil from underground formations.

Abstract: Lignin and polyether glycol produces a product which has a distinct melt point and melt viscosity. Polyether glycol has a plasticizing effect wherein the lignin can be thought of as the hard resin. When 20 parts of polyether glycol are processed with 80 parts of lignin a new material which has a melt point and a viscosity is created whereas lignin itself has no melt and flow characteristics. The new modified lignin can be cured with hexamine like a phenolic resin.

Abstract: Complexes between truncated human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein H (CMV gH) polypeptides and escort proteins are disclosed. The escort proteins include soluble fibroblast growth factor receptor polypeptide and a UL115 polypeptide. The escorts shuttle the CMV gH polypeptides to the cell surface. In this way, egress of the polypeptides out of the cell is facilitated, resulting in increased yields and easier purification of the truncated CMV gH.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the recovery of organic compounds from fibrous plant materials. Organic compounds which can be recovered from the fibrous plant materials include plant metabolites, such as arabinogalactan and phenols, which can be isolated from the wood, for example, of the Western Larch and Tamarack tree varieties. In addition to the recovery of organic compounds from wood, fibrous wood products also may be isolated, in the form of a clean fiber that can be used, for example, as raw material in wood processing applications or in the manufacture of high quality paper products. In one embodiment, a fibrous plant material first is compressed, to recover a liquid exudate and a first pressed plant fiber product. Optionally, the fibrous plant material, such as wood particles, is compressed in the substantial absence of any added solvent, to produce a pure normal liquid exudate and a first pressed plant product.

Abstract: The invention concerns the waste liquor from the chemical-thermal pulping of fibre boards and particle boards containing bonding agents. The waste liquor is produced through a procedure in which fibre boards and wood particle boards are first chopped into shreds and, in a subsequent step, pulped according to a chemical-thermal procedure which dissolves the wood structure. The liquid remaining after the separation of the cellulose is retained as waste liquor and used as extender for wood adhesives.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for manufacturing surfactants for hydrocarbon by modifying the paper making black liquor resin using modifying agents. The process is to react or combine an alkaline aqueous solution, chemical substances such as olefin, aromatic hydrocarbon, and fatty acids, amino acids, phospholipids as well as one or more of the surfactants for petroleum recovery with 20%-80% of the paper making black liquor resin, the reaction lasting for 1-3 hours at the temperature of 80.degree.-100.degree. C. and ordinary pressure, the pH value of the reaction mixture being kept at 10-12. The surfactant prepared by this method can be effectively used in the recovery of thick oil, asphalt emulsification for road pavement and the oil driving in tertiary recovery oil drainage in petroleum recovery. It has remarkable viscosity reducing effect on petroleum, its emulsification ability being strong, its viscosity reducing rate for 3.0.times.10.sup.5 -5.0.times.10.sup.

Abstract: Polymers containing lignin and organic compounds are produced by polymerizing the lignin with organic compounds containing at least 3 carbon atoms as well as oxygen, nitrogen and/or multiple-linkage functions in the presence of radically oxidizing enzymes and of oxidation products constituting their substrate.

Abstract: Compounds, useful as radiolabeling reagents, including a trihalogenated phenyl ring and having the formula ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are halogens, one of which may be a radiohalogen, are disclosed. The invention further includes radiohalogenated proteins as well as processes for preparing such reagents and radiohalogenated proteins.

Abstract: A composite molecular active substance group for use in restitutive chemotherapy against viral infections, which is produced by the process comprising: (a) preparing lignin units by carrying out an extraction in an aqueous media under weakly acidic or alkaline conditions of wood or wood-like materials and/or plant-cell cultures and separating-off the resultant insoluble solids; (b) preparing lignoid units by carrying out an aqueous alkaline extraction at a pH of 7 to 14 of starting materials selected from the group consisting of wood-incarbonization products and bioconverted wood-like materials and separating-off the resultant alkali-insoluble solids; and (c) preparing a water-soluble mixed polymer by reacting the lignin units from step (a) with the lignoid units from step (b), under aqueous alkaline isolating by ultrafiltration a low molecular weight fraction having a molecular weight of no more than 3000 daltons of the mixed polymer, taking a cut between 15 to 40 kilodaltons and discarding the resultant res

Abstract: A process for producing an oxidized lignosulfonate composition comprising admixing a lignosulfonate and nitric acid such that the amount of acid comprises from about 35% to about 100% by weight of dry solids of the lignosulfonate, and reacting said mixture for a time sufficient to form the oxidized lignosulfonate composition.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing lignin for carbon fiber spinning, comprising subjecting to heat treatment in a non-oxidizing atmosphere a phenolated lignin obtained by phenolation of lignin dissolved out in delignification of a woody material, or a phenolated lignin derived from digestion of a woody material with a phenol.

Abstract: A method of producing oil soluble surfactants from lignin is disclosed, along with a method for recovering oil from underground formations by means of a surfactant flooding system containing these lignin surfactants. Lignin is reduced in the presence of a carbon monoxide or hydrogen reducing agent at high temperature and pressure, alkoxylated with an .alpha.-olefin epoxide and then changed into oil soluble lignin surfactants by a reaction selected from the group consisting of sulfonation, sulfation and alkoxysulfation.

Abstract: Instruments for determining the degree of delignification corresponding to a sample of kraft or soda process digested wood pulp are calibrated with a predetermined quantity of refined lignin. For convenient use and application, a standardized solution comprising such refined lignin and an organic solvent such as ethylene glycol may be prepared for distribution to use points. Such standardized refined lignin, whether tested as a powdered solid or as a standardized solution yields a consistent "K" Number, "Permanganate" Number, "Kappa" Number or "Klason" Number value from standardized titration test procedures.

Abstract: A modified resole resin and an adhesive composition containing the resin wherein the resin is prepared by first reacting formaldehyde and a phenol at a mole ratio of formaldehyde to phenol of less than about 1.0 in the presence of alkaline in an amount sufficient to provide a mole ratio of said alkaline material to phenol between about 0.04 and 0.08 to form a precursor resin; reacting the precursor resin with lignin to form a lignin-modified phenol-formaldehyde precursor resin, and then reacting the lignin-modified phenol-formaldehyde precursor with additional formaldehyde sufficient to provide a cumulative formaldehyde to phenol mole ratio of between about 2.0 and about 3.0. The adhesive composition is useful in bonding wood chips, veneers and sheets of plywood.

Abstract: Lignin, or a lignin derived material, which has been significantly demethylated (e.g., the demethylated lignin found in the raffinate produced as a by-product of dimethyl sulfide production which can be carried out using the spent liquor from wood pulping operations) can be isolated by a process wherein an organic solvent is added to a lignin-containing aqueous solution. The organic solvent is typically a polar, and at least a partially water-immiscible substance such as, for example, ethyl acetate. The resulting lignin-containing aqueous solution/organic solvent mixture is acidified to produce a water layer which is discarded and an organic solvent layer which contains the demethylated lignin. Upon its recovery, the demethylated lignin is dissolved in an alkaline solution to which an aldehyde source is added to produce a resol-type resin. The aldehyde source may be formaldehyde in solution, paraformaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine, or other aldehydes including acetaldehyde, furfural, and their derivatives.

Abstract: A lignosellulose-phenolic compound composite product having a weight ratio of the lignocellulose material to the phenolic compound of 0.4/1.0 to 5.0/1.0 is prepared by heat-dissolving the lignocellulose material in a solvent comprising, as a main component, at least one phenolic compound, optionally in the presence of a dissolving acid catalyst, and then adjusting the amount of the phenolic compound to a level of 1/0.4 to 1/5.0 of the weight of the lignocellulose material, in which heat-dissolving step water generated, as a by-product, from the reaction of the lignocellulose material with the phenolic compound is preferably eliminated, to allow the temperature of the reaction system to rise and thus promote the heat-dissolving reaction.

Abstract: A method of producing prepolymeric materials from lignin is disclosed. The method uses lignin which has been hydroxyalkyl modified, such that the lignin is substantially non-phenolic and solvent soluble and/or liquid. The modified lignin is reacted with materials which yield prepolymers which may be polymerized according to known methods to produce useful polymers.

Abstract: Lignin sulfonates are converted into sulfonic acid esters by blocking free phenolic hydroxyl groups on the lignin sulfonates from reaction with a suitable protective group, subjecting the blocked lignin sulfonate in aqueous solution to ion exchange to produce the free sulfonic acid thereof, exchanging the aqueous solvent into a polar organic solvent, such as isopropanol, and reacting the sulfonic acid derivative in the polar organic solvent with a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic epoxide, preferably an alkylene oxide. The resulting sulfonic acid ester adduct may be isolated and purified from the reactants using solvent extraction. Lignin sulfonic acid ester adducts are produced that are soluble in a variety of organic solvents and insoluble in water.

Abstract: A method of producing prepolymeric materials from lignin is disclosed. The method uses lignin which has been hydroxyalkyl modified, such that the lignin is substantially non-phenolic and solvent soluble and/or liquid. The modified lignin is reacted with materials which yield prepolymers which may be polymerized according to known methods to produce useful polymers.

Abstract: A product comprising, a water insoluble lignin material, at neutral or acid pH, having chemically bound a sulfur(S) content from at least 9.5%, and a phosphorus(P) content from 3.3 to 10%. At least 50% by weight of the S and P content is thiophosphate. In said lignin material the mole ratio S/P is at least 1.8 that of S to aromatic unit (S/Ar) is greater than 0.7, and the P/Ar ratio is from 0.3 to 0.8. The lignin material has chelating capacities for gold at pH 2 of at least 2.2 millimoles per gram of lignin material. On IR analysis the lignin material has infra-red absorption bands evidencing P.dbd.S, P--S or Ar--S, P--O--Ar, aromatic, CH.sub.2 --S, and P--O--C groups in the vicinity of 730-750, 640-670, 1080-1110, 1490-1510, 820-845, and 965-995 cm.sup.-1, respectively. In the absence of interferring IR bands, the sum of the intensity of the bands in the vicinity of 640-670 cm.sup.-1 and 730-750 cm.sup.-1 over the intensity of the band in the vicinity of 1080-1110 cm.sup.-1 is greater than 1.

Abstract: A method of producing prepolymeric materials from lignin is disclosed. The method uses lignin which has been hydroxyalkyl modified, such that the lignin is substantially non-phenolic and solvent soluble and/or liquid. The modified lignin is reacted with materials which yield prepolymers which may be polymerized according to known methods to produce useful polymers.

Abstract: A product comprising lignin material having a N-content of at least 1.86% and a sulfur content of at least 3.1%, an IR in the vicinity of 1550 to 1670 cm.sup.-1 having a peak width of at least 60 cm.sup.-1. The product is also directed to such products being cross-linked and which are most suitable as chelating agents in basic medium. The product may also be used as flame retardant, for agricultural and other end uses. The invention is also directed at a method of making the above product which comprises heating a lignin containing material with thiourea H.sub.2 N--C(S)--NH.sub.2 : for example by heating in a solvent or melting.

Abstract: The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons with a surfactant flooding system, wherein the surfactant slug comprises about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of an alkylphenol lignin surfactant. The alkylphenol lignin surfactant is produced by reacting an alkylphenol having about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain with formaldehyde in basic solution at a temperature of about 50.degree. to about 120.degree. C. for about 15 minutes to about 3 hours to form a first reaction product. The first reaction product is then reacted with a kraft lignin in solution at a temperature of about 100.degree. to about 160.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to about 5 hours to form an alkylphenol lignin reaction product.

Abstract: A polymer material of the product of reaction of a grass plant lignin derivative comprising lignin polymer fragments recovered from black liquor obtained in the pulping of grass plant material and containing an average of more than 0.4 sites per phenyl propane unit of the polymer fragments reactive to base catalyzed substitution and condensation reactions, with an electrophilic compound which is capable of reacting twice at one side or at least once at each of two different sites.

Abstract: A method of producing surfactants from lignin is disclosed by reducing lignin in the presence of a carbon monoxide or hydrogen reducing agent at high temperature and pressure to produce low molecular weight lignin phenols and subjecting the lignin phenols to one or a combination of several reactions such as alkoxylation, alkylation, sulfonation, sulfation, alkoxysulfation, and sulfomethylation. The lignin surfactants so produced can be employed in a surfactant system to recover oil from underground formations.

Abstract: Liquefaction of lignin by hydrogenolysis in the presence of a catalytic composition of metal sulfides which are prepared in situ and in the presence of a lower aliphatic alcohol affords substantially increased yields of monophenols. When methanol is used in the presence of a catalyst which is a mixture of the sulfides of divalent iron, copper, and tin the total monophenols can be as high as 65% with the total cresols being about 45%. Phenol, which is used as a liquefying solvent, can itself be formed in good yield when lignin tar is used as the liquefying solvent. This affords the opportunity of conducting the liquefaction in a continuous fashion using two stages of reaction.

Abstract: A process for modifying spent sulfite liquor by reacting the liquor with a phenolic compound in the presence of an oxidizing agent is disclosed. The phenolic compound-modified spent sulfite contains 4%-25% reacted phenolic compound based on the dry weight of the original spent sulfite liquor. The modified liquor also contains a reduction in the sugars content and sulfonic acid groups of at least 20% each over the original liquor. The modified spent sulfite liquor is suitable for use in thermosetting resin formulations.

Abstract: Novel, ethoxylated lignites which exhibit excellent water solubility as well as solubility in organic liquids are obtained by ethoxylating lignite at elevated temperatures using various weight ratios of ethylene oxide to lignite, the ethoxylation being conducted using an alkali metal alkylate catalyst in a solvent which is generally inert under reaction conditions.

Abstract: A process for preparing sulfonated lignins suitable for use as dispersants and additives in dye compositions wherein sulfonated lignins are post-sulfonation crosslinked with a crosslinking agent of the aldehyde, epoxide, or polyhalide type at a pH range of between about 6.1 to 9 to selectively crosslink the low molecular weight fraction of the sulfonated lignins to provide improved heat stability and dispersibility of the sulfonated lignins in dye compositions. The invention also concerns disperse and vat dye compositions, and printing gels, containing the sulfonated lignins as a dispersing agent or additive.