Abstract:
Most processes currently being proposed and/or used for the production of lignin from kraft or soda black liquors are capable of producing two main types of lignin: high residual content (HRC) lignin and low residual content (LRC) lignin. Surprisingly, it was discovered that HRC lignin, is a suitable ingredient in alkaline adhesives, particularly wood adhesives of the phenolic type (e.g. resole resins). This biomaterial is environmentally green and remarkably low cost, which makes it an industrially viable material to be used as a novel and major ingredient in phenolic adhesives for the manufacture of exterior grade plywood, laminated veneer lumber, oriented strand board (OSB) and other wood products - this was successfully demonstrated in a number of laboratory experiments as well as several different mill trials. The composition, preparation and application of such wood adhesives are hereby disclosed.
Abstract:
A water-based process was developed for the synthesis of aminated lignin copolymers with high MW, thermal stability and solubility in water over a wide range of p H values. The cationic lignin copolymer described herein comprises: a grafting ratio of (weight of cationic amine compound) / (weight of lignin) of 70 to 200% and a charge density of +1.4-3.0 meq/g. This cationic lignin copolymer can be used as a flocculant in numerous wastewater streams including municipal and industrial systems and sludge dewatering in the pulp & paper, mining and oil industries.
Abstract:
Phenol-formaldehyde and lignin-phenol formaldehyde adhesive polymers with improved properties are disclosed, as well as the method of production therein. The method comprises providing at least one phenolic compound at least one formaldehyde compound, an alkali metal hydroxide, water and at least one carbon black; mixing the at least one phenolic compound, the at least one formaldehyde compound, the alkali metal hydroxide, the water and the carbon black to produce a methylolation medium at a pH of about 10 or less; maintaining the medium at a methylolation temperature to produce a methylolated medium reacting with the water predominantly; and increasing the temperature of the methylolated medium to produce the phenol-formaldehyde polymer via a condensation reaction.
Abstract:
A process for chlorine dioxide production uses waste glycerol from biodiesel plants as a reducing agent. This untreated waste stream may contain other reducing agents such as sodium chloride and methanol which were found to enhance the chlorine dioxide production. Other chemicals present in this waste stream did not affect the operation of the chlorine dioxide generator. Substituting the waste glycerol for methanol or other reducing agents helps kraft pulp mills in reducing the cost of producing chlorine dioxide while providing a use for the untreated waste glycerol stream.
Abstract:
Novel meltable lignin compositions having tailored compatibilities, moisture/water-resistant adhesion characteristics, and low to medium glass transition temperatures (30 to 120 o C) desirable for applications in the manufacturing of various products and the integration in the formulations of adhesives, coatings, plastics, composites and masterbatches, are obtained by blending at low temperatures (0-120 o C) dry lignins (0 to 10% moisture), in their hydrogen or protonated forms - hereby referred to as H-forms (pH = 2.3-6.5 for a 10% aqueous suspension), with a reactive and/or interactive molecule or combination of molecules.
Abstract:
The present relates to a process for the depolymerization of lignin using chemicals recoverable by the soda or kraft mill recovery cycles. The process involves the use of sodium hydroxide or white liquor to depolymerize lignin in black liquor or other lignins (e.g. hydrolysis lignin, kraft lignin) by conducting the reaction at 170-250 °C for up to 3 hours in the presence or absence of a co-solvent and a capping agent. The depolymerized lignin is then obtained by acidifying the reaction products to a low pH to precipitate the de-polymerized lignin, followed by particle coagulation, cake filtration and washing with acid and water to obtain a purified depolymerized lignin product.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of producing furfural and extracting lignin from a hemi-cellulosic biomass solution comprising a total quantity of C5 sugars, comprising the steps of heating the hemi-cellulosic biomass solution to a temperature of at least about 200°C; acidifying the hemi-cellulosic biomass solution with acid to produce the furfural in vapor phase; and condensing the furfural to recover furfural in solution, wherein the furfural is produced at a total molar yield of at least 70% of moles of furfural produced/the total moles C5 sugars present in the initial hemi-cellulosic biomass solution. Low molecular weight lignin can also be recovered from the hemi-cellulosic biomass solution prior to furfural production by membrane concentration, acidification, coagulation and filtration.
Abstract:
The present relates to a process for incorporating of wet natural fiber and starch into thermoplastics and the composite produced. The process for producing the composite comprises steps of: providing a wet natural fiber; providing a starch; providing a plasticizer; providing a thermoplastic; mixing the wet natural fiber, the starch and the plasticizer with water to produce a paste, and compounding the paste with the thermoplastic to produce the composite. The composite in a preferred embodiment comprises 50 weight % natural fiber/starch and a plasticizer; 50 weight % thermoplastic; a tensile modulus greater than 1450 MPa and a tensile strength greater than 41 MPa.
Abstract:
It is provided a process to modify lignocellulosic materials with lignin, and incorporating lignin and isocyanates or other wood adhesive in wood products compositions, and their composition, preparation and application for bonding wood products are disclosed. The compositions comprise lignin, derived from a variety of natural resources, isocyanate compounds containing two or more isocyanate functional groups, or other wood adhesives.
Abstract:
An acidic water-based process was developed for the synthesis of anionic lignin copolymers with adjustable MW, thermal stability and solubility in water. The anionic lignin copolymer described herein comprises: a molecular weight of 5,000 to 7.4 X 10 5 g/mol; and a charge density of -1 to -7.2 meq/g. The anionic lignin copolymers described herein which have a molecular weight range of 000-50,000 g/mol can be used as dispersants of negatively charged molecules or particles in numerous process or wastewater streams (e.g. concrete admixtures, gypsum slurries, textile dye) while such copolymers in a molecular weight range of 90,000-740,000 g/mole can be used as flocculants of positively charged molecules or particles in numerous process and wastewater streams including industrial and municipal systems and sludge dewatering in the textile dye, pulp & paper, mining and oil industries.