Process for conversion of lignin to useful compounds

摘要

This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The continuous process further utilizes nanoparticles of a crystalline metal oxide. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.

主权项

1. A continuous process for the conversion of a lignin biomass feedstream to a converted lignin stream said process comprising the steps of:
A) combining the lignin biomass feedstream with a catalyst comprising nickel oxide and a liquid solvent in a reaction vessel, B) hydrogenating the lignin biomass feedstream at a hydrogenation temperature and a hydrogenation pressure for a hydrogenation time wherein the hydrogen is derived from the group consisting of a hydrogen donor and direct hydrogen gas addition, and C) deoxygenating the hydrogenated lignin biomass at a deoxygenation temperature and a deoxygenation pressure for a deoxygenation time wherein the lignin biomass feedstream in the reaction vessel comprises solid lignin slurried in the liquid solvent.