A process for the production of organic chemicals and fuels from lignin in the presence of a molybdenum or tungsten based catalyst, comprising mixing the lignin with the catalyst and a solvent in a sealed reactor, introducing an inert gas or hydrogen to the reactor to replace oxygen therein, and heating the sealed reactor to perform a depolymerization reaction at a reaction temperature of above 200° C. to obtain liquid products, which include aromatic compounds, esters, alcohols, monophenols and benzyl alcohols.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The invention provides a method for depolymerising a phenolic polymer, the method comprising reacting the phenolic polymer with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and a hydrogen halide. The phenolic polymer may be selected from the group consisting of lignin and derivatives thereof. The hydrogen halide may be HBr. The quantity of hydrogen halide per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 30 mmoles to 70 mmoles. The quantity of DMSO per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 0.1 mole to 1 mole. The reaction may be performed at a temperature of from 100 to 120° C. The reaction may be carried out for between 10 h and 14 h. The product of the reaction may comprise vanillin.

The invention provides a method for depolymerising a phenolic polymer, the method comprising reacting the phenolic polymer with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and a hydrogen halide. The phenolic polymer may be selected from the group consisting of lignin and derivatives thereof. The hydrogen halide may be HBr. The quantity of hydrogen halide per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 30 mmoles to 70 mmoles. The quantity of DMSO per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 0.1 mole to 1 mole. The reaction may be performed at a temperature of from 100 to 120° C. The reaction may be carried out for between 10 h and 14 h. The product of the reaction may comprise vanillin.

The present disclosure discloses a method for preparing 2,5-dimethylphenol by selective catalytic conversion of lignin, relates to the technical field of chemistry, and includes the following steps: mixing lignin, a catalyst, and ethanol, and then carrying out a catalytic conversion reaction of lignin under the gaseous supercritical conditions of ethanol; and cooling the reaction product by quenching after the completion of reaction, and then subjecting it to separation and extraction to obtain 2,5-dimethylphenol. The catalyst comprises a modified sepiolite carrier, an active metal Mo, and auxiliary agents Zr and Fe. The process of the present disclosure is simple, and the prepared catalyst is a solid catalyst, which avoids problems of difficult recovery, serious environmental pollution and equipment corrosion caused by the use of homogeneous organic acid-base catalysts.

The present disclosure discloses a method for preparing 2,5-dimethylphenol by selective catalytic conversion of lignin, relates to the technical field of chemistry, and includes the following steps: mixing lignin, a catalyst, and ethanol, and then carrying out a catalytic conversion reaction of lignin under the gaseous supercritical conditions of ethanol; and cooling the reaction product by quenching after the completion of reaction, and then subjecting it to separation and extraction to obtain 2,5-dimethylphenol. The catalyst comprises a modified sepiolite carrier, an active metal Mo, and auxiliary agents Zr and Fe. The process of the present disclosure is simple, and the prepared catalyst is a solid catalyst, which avoids problems of difficult recovery, serious environmental pollution and equipment corrosion caused by the use of homogeneous organic acid-base catalysts.