A method for producing lignin pellets is disclosed. The lignin pellets comprise lignin in an amount of 90-99.99 weight-% based on the total weight of the lignin pellets. The method comprises providing a lignin powder; mixing an additive with the lignin powder to provide a mixed lignin powder, subjecting the mixed lignin powder to a pelletizing treatment to provide lignin pellets, wherein the lignin pellets have a diameter of 2.5-8 mm. Further is disclosed a lignin pellet, a product, and the use of the lignin pellet.

A process for preparing a porous material provides a mixture (M1) of a water-soluble bio-based polyphenolic polymer and tannin biopolymers as compound (C1) and water. Mixture (M1) reacts with an aqueous solution of at least one polyvalent metal ion to prepare a gel (A), the gel (A) is exposed to a water-miscible solvent (L) to obtain a gel (B), and the gel (B) is dried. Porous materials which can be obtained in this process find application as thermal insulation material, carrier material for load and release of actives, batteries, electrode materials in batteries, fuels cells or electrolysis, for catalysis, for capacitors, for consumer electronics, for building and construction applications, for home and commercial appliance applications, for temperature-controlled logistics applications, for vacuum insulation applications, for apparel applications, for food applications, for cosmetic applications, for biomedical applications, for agricultural applications, for consumer applications, for packaging applications or for pharmaceutical applications.

Disclosed is a thermoplastic composition comprising at least one polymer and a lignin-based filler, whereinthe color of the thermoplastic composition is represented by an L value of at most 36, an a value of at most 10, and a b value of at most 15; andthe thermoplastic composition exhibits a maximum reflection intensity value in the near-infrared wavelength range of 1450-2450 nm of the electromagnetic spectrum that is equal to or greater than 5% reflection intensity when determined with a near-infrared detection system. Further is disclosed a method for producing a thermoplastic composition, and the use of the lignin-based filler. Further is disclosed an article and the use of the thermoplastic composition.

Method of preparing a dispersion of colloidal lignin particles by providing a solution of lignin in a mixture of an organic solvent for lignin and a non-solvent for lignin having a ratio of non-solvent to solvent; and increasing the ratio of the non-solvent to the solvent to produce an aqueous dispersion of colloidal lignin particles. The dispersions are stable and the colloidal lignin particles are useful for many applications such as rheology modifiers in three-dimensional printing of hydrogels, or in purification systems such as filters, and packed columns, and as flocculants.

A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product is provided and includes: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; and irrigating the growth substrate product. The aqueous binder composition prior to curing includes a component (i) in the form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in the form of one or more cross-linkers, and a component (iii) in the form of one or more plasticizers.

Provided are a hollow spherical particle that has higher safety and can be prepared more easily. A hollow spherical particle that is a self-assembled body of lignin, the lignin having a content of -O-4 ether type structure of 50% or more and a solubility in 60 to 80% ethanol at 25 C. of 2 w/v % or more.

A continuous process for producing hydrocarbon products, such as jet fuel, diesel, and naphtha, from lignin-derived materials comprising lignin oligomers, via hydrodeoxygenation in presence of catalysts under hydrogen pressure. These hydrocarbon products can then be fractionated into fuels such as naphtha, jet fuel, or diesel. Preferably, the jet fuel and diesel meet the corresponding fuel standards. Preferably, the naphtha meets key specifications of the corresponding gasoline and naphtha standards. Because lignin-derived materials are produced from biomass, the hydrocarbon products, including the jet fuel, diesel, and naphtha produced by this process, may contain up to 100% biogenic carbon.

An object is to provide a hollow spherical particle that has higher safety and can be prepared more easily. This object can be achieved by a hollow spherical particle that is a self-assembled body of a lignin-saccharide complex, the lignin-saccharide complex having at least one bond selected from the group consisting of an -ether bond between lignin and polysaccharide, an -ester bond between lignin and polysaccharide, and a -ester bond between lignin and polysaccharide.

A resin composition for impregnating paper products used in manufacture of high-pressure decorative laminates includes a resin and lignin derivatives.

Lignin pellets comprising fused lignin are described herein. The lignin pellets may further comprise a processing aid, and/or a surfactant, and/or a chemical modifying agent, and/or a compatibilizer and/or a thermoplastic polymer. An extrusion process for producing the lignin pellets and their use in the manufacture of lignin thermoplastic blend products, polyols, polyphenols, polyaromatics and polyurethanes is also disclosed herein. The extruded lignin pellet may be dry-blended with additional thermoplastic and/or additive and then directly processed using processes such as injection molding, compression molding, extrusion, extrusion coating, blowing, thermoforming, stamping, foaming, fiber drawing, calendering or rolling.