The present invention relates to novel lignin-derived compounds and compositions comprising the same and their use as redox flow battery electrolytes. The invention further provides a method for preparing said compounds and compositions as well as a redox flow battery comprising said compounds and compositions. Additionally, an assembly for carrying out the inventive method is provided.

A method of manufacturing a mineral fibre thermal insulation product comprises the sequential steps of: Forming mineral fibres from a molten mineral mixture; Spraying a substantially formaldehyde free binder solution on to the mineral fibres, the binder solution comprising: a reducing sugar, an acid precursor derivable from an inorganic salt and a source of nitrogen; Collecting the mineral fibres to which the binder solution has been applied to form a batt of mineral fibres; and Curing the batt comprising the mineral fibres and the binder which is in contact with the mineral fibres by passing the batt through a curing oven so as to provide a batt of mineral fibres held together by a substantially water insoluble cured binder.

A method of manufacturing a mineral fibre thermal insulation product comprises the sequential steps of: Forming mineral fibres from a molten mineral mixture; Spraying a substantially formaldehyde free binder solution on to the mineral fibres, the binder solution comprising: a reducing sugar, an acid precursor derivable from an inorganic salt and a source of nitrogen; Collecting the mineral fibres to which the binder solution has been applied to form a batt of mineral fibres; and Curing the batt comprising the mineral fibres and the binder which is in contact with the mineral fibres by passing the batt through a curing oven so as to provide a batt of mineral fibres held together by a substantially water insoluble cured binder.

Disclosed herein is a bio-based copolymer comprising in polymerized form (i) at least one polymerizable bio-based monomer containing one phenolic hydroxyl group which has been derivatized to provide at least one polymerizable functional group which is an ethylenically unsaturated functional group (such as a [meth]acrylate group), where the precursors of the polymerizable bio-based monomers are derived from raw lignin-containing biomass, and (ii) at least one ion-conducting co-monomer other than the bio-based monomer. Also disclosed herein are binders comprising the bio-based copolymer, electrodes comprising the binder, polymer electrolytes comprising the bio-based copolymer and an electrochemical device comprising an electrode in electrical contact with a polymer electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrode and the polymer electrolyte comprises the bio-based copolymer.

A method for separating and recovering compounds from biomass is provided. In the method, an aqueous extraction fluid in essentially gaseous phase, such as steam, is propagated through a reaction area containing biomass feedstock. When extraction fluid advances through the biomass feedstock, in predetermined reaction conditions, a target compound separates from the essentially solid feedstock matter and travels, with the extraction fluid, towards the end of the reaction area, in where the target compound is recovered in the form of an essentially liquid medium. The method is beneficial for extracting long-chain hemicelluloses from cellulose-containing feedstocks.

A low energy production process for producing paper pulp from lignocellulosic biomass, the process comprising the following successive steps: a) extracting lignins and hemicellulose from lignocellulosic biomass by putting at least one solid lignocellulosic raw material in the presence of a mixture, composed only of water and of formic acid, at atmospheric pressure and under controlled conditions of reaction temperature between ambient temperature and the reflux temperature of the mixture at atmospheric pressure, preferably between 80° C. and 100° C., with a weight ratio of the at least one solid lignocellulosic raw material/liquid mixture comprised between 1/1 and 1/15, and for a determined period of time of reaction; and b) separating, at atmospheric pressure and at the reaction temperature, a solid fraction, constituting raw paper pulp, from an organic phase containing in solution at least the starting formic acid and water mixture, solubilized monomeric and polymeric sugars, lignins.

A process is disclosed for obtaining citrus fiber from citrus pulp. Citrus fiber is obtained having a c* close packing concentration value of less than 3.8. The citrus fiber can be obtained having a viscosity of at least 1000 mPa.s, wherein said citrus fiber is dispersed in standardized water at a mixing speed of from 800 rpm to 1000 rpm, to a 3 w/w% citrus fiber/standardized water solution, and wherein said viscosity is measured at a shear rate of 5 s-1 at 20° C. Citrus fiber can be obtained having a CIELAB L* value of at least 90. The citrus fiber can be used in food products, feed products, beverages, personal care products, pharmaceutical products or detergent products.

A process is disclosed for obtaining citrus fiber from citrus pulp. Citrus fiber is obtained having a c* close packing concentration value of less than 3.8. The citrus fiber can be obtained having a viscosity of at least 1000 mPa.s, wherein said citrus fiber is dispersed in standardized water at a mixing speed of from 800 rpm to 1000 rpm, to a 3 w/w% citrus fiber/standardized water solution, and wherein said viscosity is measured at a shear rate of 5 s-1 at 20° C. Citrus fiber can be obtained having a CIELAB L* value of at least 90. The citrus fiber can be used in food products, feed products, beverages, personal care products, pharmaceutical products or detergent products.

An integrated approach for utilizing waste products of 2G bio-refineries to fractionate the lignin of high purity. The present invention also provides a method of recycling of two waste products (2-G ethanol residue as the substrate (LRBR) and fusel oil/synthetic fusel oil (SFO) as one of the solvent) of the biorefineries in a beneficial manner to fractionate the lignin of high purity. The present method of separating high purity lignin comprises fractioning extractive-free lignin rich residue with a solvent, wherein the solvent is a mixture of SFO/Fusel oil and Formic acid. An optimized ratio of waste fusel oil and formic acid gave more than >85% yields of high purity lignin.

The present invention relates to an adhesive composition containing (a) modified cellulose fibers having a cellulose I crystal structure, an average fiber length of 1000 nm or less, and an average fiber diameter of 1 nm or more and 300 nm or less; and (b) a resin. According to the present invention, an adhesive composition having excellent mechanical strength such as shearing adhesive strength can be provided. The adhesive composition of the present invention described above can be utilized in structural adhesion of vehicle assembly products and the like.