The present invention relates to a methods for producing bio-oils from vegetation high in lignin. The invention further relates to antimicrobial compositions comprising bio-oil extracted from vegetation high in lignin.

The present invention relates to a methods for producing bio-oils from vegetation high in lignin. The invention further relates to antimicrobial compositions comprising bio-oil extracted from vegetation high in lignin.

The patent application relates to isolated polypeptides that specifically cleave non-glycosidic ether bonds between lignins or derivatives thereof and saccharides, and to cDNAs encoding the polypeptides. The patent application also relates to nucleic acid constructs, expression vectors and host cells comprising the cDNAs, as well as methods of producing and using the isolated polypeptides for treating pulp and biomass to increase soluble saccharide yield and enrich lignin fractions.

Disclosed herein is a process for depolymerization of lignin including thermally converting an aqueous mixture having a pH of at least 9 including lignin, catalyst and primary alcohol in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 280° C.

Disclosed herein is a process for depolymerization of lignin including thermally converting an aqueous mixture having a pH of at least 9 including lignin, catalyst and primary alcohol in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 280° C.

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin, which avoids melting and/or significant foaming during subsequent thermal processing. The process comprises the steps of providing agglomerated lignin and heating the agglomerated lignin to obtain thermally stabilized agglomerated lignin. The thermally stabilized lignin can be further processed to a carbon enriched material.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of removing volatile compounds from a lignin-containing material, the method comprising: providing a material comprising lignin and volatile compounds; treating the material by a distillation method in order to vaporize at least a part of the volatile compounds.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of removing volatile compounds from a lignin-containing material, the method comprising: providing a material comprising lignin and volatile compounds; treating the material by a distillation method in order to vaporize at least a part of the volatile compounds.

Modified lignin products, processes for making them, and their use to produce rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are disclosed. The processes comprise heating a lignin source with a nitrogen source and a starved concentration of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde to give a reaction mixture comprising a Mannich condensation product, neutralizing the reaction mixture, and isolating the modified lignin product. The process is performed at a mass ratio of lignin source to nitrogen source within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 and at a molar ratio of nitrogen source to C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde within the range of 3.5:1 to 1:1. Polyol blends and performance additives that contain the modified lignin products are described. Rigid foams that process well and incorporate up to 60 wt.%, based on the amount of polyol component, of the modified lignin contribute to excellent flame retardancy and low-temperature R-value performance.

Provided is a stable lignin-phenol blend for use in lignin modified phenol-formaldehyde resins comprising lignin in an amount between 10-80 wt %, phenol in an amount between 15-90 wt %, and a solubilizer in an amount between 0%-25 wt %.