The present invention relates generally to the generation of bio-products from organic matter feedstocks. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of pulping liquors in the hydrothermal/thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic and/or fossilised organic feedstocks into biofuels (e.g. bio-oils) and/or chemical products (e.g. platform chemicals).

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting seawater that contains plankton and generating DHMBA (dba), which is an antioxidant, from the plankton contained in the seawater. [Solution] The present invention is characterized in that: collected seawater containing plankton is filtered using a filter, the cell contents are removed from the plankton remaining on the filter, the removed cell contents are subsequently heated, and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is produced from the heated product; and the plankton are assumed to be diatoms.

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting seawater that contains plankton and generating DHMBA (dba), which is an antioxidant, from the plankton contained in the seawater. [Solution] The present invention is characterized in that: collected seawater containing plankton is filtered using a filter, the cell contents are removed from the plankton remaining on the filter, the removed cell contents are subsequently heated, and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is produced from the heated product; and the plankton are assumed to be diatoms.

A process produces a mono vinyl ether, R—O—CH═CH.sub.2. R represents an organic group with at least three carbon atoms. The process involves reacting a mono hydroxy compound. R—OH, with acetylene in presence of a catalyst to get a product mixture containing the mono vinyl ether, unconverted mono hydroxy compound, and the catalyst. To the product mixture, an ester is added that contains at least one ester group, X—O.sub.2C—. X is a hydrocarbon group containing less carbon atoms than R. The remaining mono hydroxy compound R—OH is reacted with the ester in the presence of the catalyst to get a transesterification product containing at least one ester group, R—O.sub.2C—, and an alcohol, X—OH. The mono vinyl ether is isolated from the product mixture obtained after the ester addition, optionally followed by purification of the mono vinyl ether by distillation.

A process produces a mono vinyl ether, R—O—CH═CH.sub.2. R represents an organic group with at least three carbon atoms. The process involves reacting a mono hydroxy compound. R—OH, with acetylene in presence of a catalyst to get a product mixture containing the mono vinyl ether, unconverted mono hydroxy compound, and the catalyst. To the product mixture, an ester is added that contains at least one ester group, X—O.sub.2C—. X is a hydrocarbon group containing less carbon atoms than R. The remaining mono hydroxy compound R—OH is reacted with the ester in the presence of the catalyst to get a transesterification product containing at least one ester group, R—O.sub.2C—, and an alcohol, X—OH. The mono vinyl ether is isolated from the product mixture obtained after the ester addition, optionally followed by purification of the mono vinyl ether by distillation.

A process produces a mono vinyl ether, R—O—CH═CH.sub.2. R represents an organic group with at least three carbon atoms. The process involves reacting a mono hydroxy compound. R—OH, with acetylene in presence of a catalyst to get a product mixture containing the mono vinyl ether, unconverted mono hydroxy compound, and the catalyst. To the product mixture, an ester is added that contains at least one ester group, X—O.sub.2C—. X is a hydrocarbon group containing less carbon atoms than R. The remaining mono hydroxy compound R—OH is reacted with the ester in the presence of the catalyst to get a transesterification product containing at least one ester group, R—O.sub.2C—, and an alcohol, X—OH. The mono vinyl ether is isolated from the product mixture obtained after the ester addition, optionally followed by purification of the mono vinyl ether by distillation.

A process for processing an alcohol-containing solvent is described. The process according to the invention is used in particular for the treatment of alcohol-containing solvents which are used, for example, for cleaning metal parts. Further subject matter of the present invention are compositions which are suitable for the aforementioned intended use, as well as the use of certain compositions for the purification of alcohol-containing solvents.

A process for processing an alcohol-containing solvent is described. The process according to the invention is used in particular for the treatment of alcohol-containing solvents which are used, for example, for cleaning metal parts. Further subject matter of the present invention are compositions which are suitable for the aforementioned intended use, as well as the use of certain compositions for the purification of alcohol-containing solvents.

This disclosure pertains to the use of black liquors from kraft pulp mills as a source of catalysts for the thermochemical conversion of organic matter feedstocks to bio oils. More particularly, some embodiments pertain to integrated kraft pulp mill and thermochemical conversion systems, which include: a Kraft pulp mill comprising a digester for digesting a lignocellulosic material with white liquor to produce pulp and black liquors; a thermochemical conversion subsystem comprising: at least one mixing tank for combining pulping liquors received from the pulp mill with an organic matter feedstock and water to produce a reaction mixture; a reactor vessel for treating the reaction mixture received from the mixing tank at a reaction temperature and pressure suitable for conversion of all or a portion of the organic matter in the reaction mixture into a product mixture comprising a bioproduct and an aqueous stream containing both organic and inorganic compounds; and a depressurizer for depressurizing product mixture received from the reactor vessel; and one or more conveyors for conveying the pulping liquors from the pulp mill to the mixing tank.

This disclosure pertains to the use of black liquors from kraft pulp mills as a source of catalysts for the thermochemical conversion of organic matter feedstocks to bio oils. More particularly, some embodiments pertain to integrated kraft pulp mill and thermochemical conversion systems, which include: a Kraft pulp mill comprising a digester for digesting a lignocellulosic material with white liquor to produce pulp and black liquors; a thermochemical conversion subsystem comprising: at least one mixing tank for combining pulping liquors received from the pulp mill with an organic matter feedstock and water to produce a reaction mixture; a reactor vessel for treating the reaction mixture received from the mixing tank at a reaction temperature and pressure suitable for conversion of all or a portion of the organic matter in the reaction mixture into a product mixture comprising a bioproduct and an aqueous stream containing both organic and inorganic compounds; and a depressurizer for depressurizing product mixture received from the reactor vessel; and one or more conveyors for conveying the pulping liquors from the pulp mill to the mixing tank.