Abstract: A process of producing a distillate fuel from lignin includes: preparing a biomass-derived lignin solvent; dissolving the lignin in the biomass-derived solvent; and separating undissolved lignin and mineral matter to produce a syncrude. In certain embodiments, the process further includes subjecting the syncrude to a hydrotreatment/hydrogenation process to produce a distillate fuel. A process to improve direct lignin liquefaction includes: using a non-hydrogenated lipid in a direct lignin liquefaction process to facilitate lignin depolymerization. A process for using a biomass-derived feedstock as a hydrogen donor includes: providing a biomass-derived feedstock; modifying the feedstock to improve its usefulness as a hydrogen donor; and conducting a transfer hydrogenation process using the modified feedstock as a hydrogen donor.

Abstract: A method of preparing a low-molecular lignin derivative comprises the step of: preparing lignin by hydrolyzing lignocellulosic biomass with an acid; preparing a first mixture by mixing 100 parts by weight of the lignin and 500 parts or more by weight of a phenolic compound; preparing a second mixture by mixing the first mixture with a solvent including the hydrophobic polar solvent; and recovering a low-molecular lignin derivative from the second mixture.

Abstract: Provided are a fly attractant composition containing a ligninsulfonate as an active ingredient, and a fly expellant composition containing 5 to 20% by weight of a ligninsulfonate and at least 0.1% by weight but less than 5% by weight of an insecticidal active ingredient.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of lignin to liquid hydrocarbons comprising: (1) hydrogenolyzing a lignin in the presence of at least one hydrogenolysis catalyst, at a temperature ranging from 250° C. to 350° C., preferably ranging from 290° C. to 320° C., to obtain depolymerized lignin; and (2) hydrodeoxygenating said depolymerized lignin in the presence of a hydrodeoxygenating catalyst to obtain a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons. The resultant liquid hydrocarbons can be used as such (biofuels) for the production of reformulated gasolines, or they can be used for the production of gasolines or oils by conventional refining processes.

Abstract: The conversion of diols to mono-alcohols as fuel blendstocks. In one embodiment hydrotreating processes are described that selectively convert glycols to mono-alcohols that can be blended as biofuels. Both NiMo and CoMo catalysts are active for the reaction and reaction conditions can also impact the selectivity of mono-alcohols.

Abstract: Provided are methods for aqueous isolation of depolymerized lignin in high yield from a lignin-containing biomass composition, comprising positioning a lignin-containing biomass composition into a flowthrough thermal reactor chamber to provide for passage of an aqueous fluid therethrough, contacting the lignin biomass composition with the aqueous fluid under elevated temperature conditions sufficient to provide for lignin release and depolymerization, flowing the aqueous fluid through the reactor chamber under the elevated temperature conditions, to provide an output aqueous fluid comprising released depolymerized lignin, and collecting the depolymerized lignin.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the disclosure, a method for preparing a phenolic compound is provided. The method includes providing a lignin depolymerization product, and hydrogenating the lignin depolymerization product under iron oxide and hydrogen gas to prepare a phenolic compound. The prepared phenolic compound is a crude phenolic composition including phenol, methylphenol, dimethylphenol or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A liquid fuel production process from cellulosic biomass comprises the following steps: (1) providing a mixture of cellulose and water; (2) subjecting the obtained mixture to hydrolysis and catalytic hydrogenation under the presence of acid to obtain mono-sugar alcohol and optional solid material lignin, or subjecting the obtained mixture to hydrolysis to obtain monosaccharide; (3) esterifying the obtained mono-sugar with C2-C5 organic acid to obtain a liquid fuel II, or subjecting the obtained mono-sugar alcohol or monosaccharide to dehydration/hydrogenation to obtain an organic liquid fuel I consisting of alkanes. This process avoids the loss of organic carbon atoms during fermentation, and the sugar derived from cellulosic biomass can be converted to organic carbon in the liquid fuel. The lignin produced by the process can be used for preparing aromatics.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods for processing lignin-containing biomass so as to render it more amenable to hydroprocessing, wherein such processing typically reduces the level of oxygen in the biomass. Following such processing, the resulting reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product can be hydroprocessed into a biofuel suitable for use as a transportation fuel. Additionally, in some embodiments, such methods can be integrated with one or more other processes, wherein such other processes can be production and/or logistical in nature.

Abstract: A method for preparing biomass for slurry processing. The method includes solubilizing the solid material into either a dissolved state or a suspended solid in a liquid phase, and treating the liquid phase to produce chemicals and fuels.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods for processing lignin-containing biomass so as to render it more amenable to hydroprocessing, wherein such processing typically reduces the level of oxygen in the biomass. Following such processing, the resulting reduced-oxygen lignin-derived product can be hydroprocessed into a biofuel suitable for use as a transportation fuel. Additionally, in some embodiments, such methods can be integrated with one or more other processes, wherein such other processes can be production and/or logistical in nature.

Abstract: A liquid fuel production process from cellulosic biomass comprises the following steps: (1) providing a mixture of cellulose and water; (2) subjecting the obtained mixture to hydrolysis and catalytic hydrogenation under the presence of acid to obtain mono-sugar alcohol and optional solid material lignin, or subjecting the obtained mixture to hydrolysis to obtain monosaccharide; (3) esterifying the obtained mono-sugar with C2-C5 organic acid to obtain a liquid fuel II, or subjecting the obtained mono-sugar alcohol or monosaccharide to dehydration/hydrogenation to obtain an organic liquid fuel I consisting of alkanes. This process avoids the loss of organic carbon atoms during fermentation, and the sugar derived from cellulosic biomass can be converted to organic carbon in the liquid fuel. The lignin produced by the process can be used for preparing aromatics.

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.