The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase and the feruloyl-CoA:monolignol transferase enzyme that enables incorporation of monolignol ferulates, for example, including p-coumaryl ferulate, coniferyl ferulate, and sinapyl ferulate, into the lignin of plants.

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 conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.

A process for the conversion of a cellulose containing feed comprising the steps of: contacting the cellulose containing feed with a molten salt hydrate and mildly hydrolyzing the cellulose to form a solution of partially hydrolized cellulose, separating one or more components of the partially hydrolyzed cellulose from the solution, converting the separated one or more components of the partially hydrolyzed cellulose in a thermo-catalytic process.

The present invention relates to water-soluble modified lignins preparable by enzymatic reaction of at least one water-insoluble lignin with at least one organic compound which possesses at least one group selected from primary or secondary amino group, hydroxyl group and phenyl group and has an average molecular weight in the range from 75 to 2500 g/mol. The water-soluble modified lignins are preparable under mild conditions in a simple process. They can be used as dispersants for mineral binder compositions, where they act as plasticizers and in so doing prolong the setting time to much less of an extent than the water-insoluble lignins used in their preparation.

A method of making a carbon fiber comprising esterification of a lignin precursor with an acid, acid anhydride, or acyl halide, thereby forming a reduced T.sub.g lignin. Mixing the reduced T.sub.g lignin with a carbon residue selected from the group of coal based raw material, petroleum based raw material and combinations thereof, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture; and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber. A method of making a carbon fiber comprising esterification of a lignin with an acid derivative, thereby forming a reduced T.sub.g lignin. Mixing the reduced T.sub.g lignin with a pitch, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture; and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber. A method of making a carbon fiber comprising lowering the T.sub.g of a lignin material, thereby forming a reduced T.sub.g lignin. Mixing the reduced T.sub.g lignin with a carbon residue, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber.

A lignin derivative that is extracted from biomass and is used for rubber reinforcement or for use in a molding material is provided. Such a lignin derivative has a number average molecular weight of 300 to 2,000, and contains a component that is soluble in a polar organic solvent, in an amount of 80% by mass or more. When such a lignin derivative is incorporated, a lignin resin composition, a rubber composition, or a molding material, all of which have excellent low hysteresis loss characteristics, elastic modulus, or tensile properties, can be obtained. Furthermore, when a component that is thermofusible is used as the soluble component, a lignin resin composition, a rubber composition, or a molding material, all of which have superior aforementioned characteristics, can be obtained.

The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of valuable components from a tannin-rich bark raw-material, by carrying out an alkaline cooking step, followed by acid precipitation to separate the valuable components from the remaining bark pulp. The invention also relates to the use of said process on a bark side stream of a chemical pulping plant, whereby the liquor remaining after the extraction of the present process is returned to a stream of the wood pulping process, typically to a black liquor stream, while the spent pulp can be processed further, e.g. by bleaching to give dissolved pulp.

The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a tire, which includes 100 parts by weight of raw material rubber, 1 to 20 parts by weight of a lignin-based antioxidant, and 0.1 to 3 parts by weight of a crosslinking agent.

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of lignin and the use of said suspension in the preparation of a resin.

The present invention pertains among others to a method of preparing a biomass mash from a biomass comprising lignin. The invention also pertains to a biomass mash comprising reduced viscosity.