Low molecular weight sulfated beta-O4 lignin (SbO4L) are potent inhibitors of coagulation with high selectivity.

A thermosetting resin composition according to the present invention contains: purified lignin obtained by treating a herbaceous biomass as a raw material under the following conditions in a first solvent that is a mixed solvent of water and at least one type of alcohol selected from aliphatic alcohols having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, subsequently removing the alcohol from the alcohol phase that is separated at the temperature at which the first solvent separates into two phases to give lignin, adding a second solvent that is an organic solvent alone or a mixed solvent of the organic solvent and water to the resultant lignin, and removing the second solvent from the solution in which the lignin is dissolved in the second solvent; and a lignin-reactive compound that has a functional group capable of reacting with the purified lignin. Condition A: the concentration of the raw material to be charged into the mixed solvent is 1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less. Condition B: the treatment temperature is 100° C. or higher and 350° C. or lower. Condition C: the treatment time is 0.1 hours or more and 10 hours or less.

Disclosed are methods for preparing and collecting a polyaromatic compound. Also disclosed are products comprising a polyaromatic compound.

Cellulose-containing compositions and method of making same are disclosed. The compositions comprise a cellulose product comprising a type-I cellulose, a type-II cellulose, amorphous cellulose, or a combination thereof. Further, methods are disclosed for making these compositions and for further hydrolyzing these compositions. Additionally, uses for the cellulose-containing compositions are disclosed.

A process for recovering carbonized lignin having a defined grain size distribution from a lignin-containing liquid is provided. The lignin-containing liquid is subjected to a hydrothermal carbonization to convert the lignin into a carbonized lignin and the carbonized lignin is separated from the liquid containing the carbonized lignin. The lignin-containing liquid is subjected to a hydrothermal carbonization at temperatures in the range from about 150° C. to about 280° C. and by adapting the H+ ion concentration in the lignin-containing liquid before and/or during the hydrothermal carbonization the grain size distribution of the carbonized lignin is adjusted.

A biomass upgrading process comprises a steam-cracking step for producing a granulated combustible product, and, prior to the granulation step, a step of mixing an intermediate pulverulent product resulting from the steam-cracking of the biomass and a pulverulent material having a high lignin content.

Processes for obtaining substances from bark, especially bark high in suberin and lignin, which substances can be used for preparing biofuels are disclosed. The processes use a solvent system for dissolving the substances, which system can be recycled in the process. The solvent system comprises a base selected from tertiary aliphatic amines A composition comprising bark and the solvent system, which can be used in the processes, is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for lignin dissolution in which partial methylolation of lignin is carried out during the step of preparing a solution of lignin in an aqueous medium comprising alkali and phenol. The lignin prepared according to the process of the present invention can be used to manufacture lignin-based phenolic resins, which are particularly useful in the manufacture of laminates.

Disclosed herein are methods for producing nanocrystalline cellulose and oxidized nanocrystalline cellulose from biomass. Also disclosed are methods for forming materials, and the materials formed from a fibrin matrix that incorporates the nanocrystalline cellulose and/or the oxidized nanocrystalline cellulose.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the reactivity of lignin, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) forming, under heating at a temperature of 30-70° C., an aqueous dispersion comprising alkali and lignin, wherein the alkali comprises a hydroxide of an alkali metal; and b) heating the dispersion formed in step a) at a temperature of 50-95° C. for producing alkalated lignin.