The present invention relates to a method of producing lignin with reduced amount of odorous substances comprising the step of: providing a solid phase lignin containing starting material to be contacted with a water solution comprising carboxylic acid; dissolving the guaiacol and etylguaiacol content from the lignin into the water solution, and draining off the water solution with its content of guaiacol or etylguaiacol; obtaining a lignin material with a reduced content of guaiacol or etylguaiacol. The invention also relates to a lignin product with reduced odour obtained and/or obtainable by the method obtained lignin as a component in polymer blends, an additive or filler in building materials, as binding agent in adhesives, and/or for the production of a carbon fibre, especially in indoor applications.

A process for producing a highly carbonaceous fibre or set of fibres including combining a structured precursor comprising a hydrocellulose fibre or a set of fibres, and an unstructured precursor, including lignin or a lignin derivative in the form of a solution having a viscosity less than 15,000 mPa.Math.s.sup.1 at the temperature at which the combination step takes place, in order to obtain a hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres coated with the lignin or lignin derivative, wherein the process further includes a step of thermal and dimensional stabilization of the hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres covered with the lignin in order to obtain a hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres covered with a deposit of lignin or lignin derivative, and a carbonization step of the hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres coated with a lignin deposit in order to obtain a highly carbonaceous fibre or set of fibres.

A process for producing a highly carbonaceous fibre or set of fibres including combining a structured precursor comprising a hydrocellulose fibre or a set of fibres, and an unstructured precursor, including lignin or a lignin derivative in the form of a solution having a viscosity less than 15,000 mPa.Math.s.sup.1 at the temperature at which the combination step takes place, in order to obtain a hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres coated with the lignin or lignin derivative, wherein the process further includes a step of thermal and dimensional stabilization of the hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres covered with the lignin in order to obtain a hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres covered with a deposit of lignin or lignin derivative, and a carbonization step of the hydrocellulose fibre or set of fibres coated with a lignin deposit in order to obtain a highly carbonaceous fibre or set of fibres.

A composition for use in the formation of a lignin-based carbon fibre precursor is disclosed. The composition is a blend of a lignin and at least 10 wt % of a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer may improve the mechanical properties of the lignin-based blend to the extent that conventional carbon fibre precursor formation processes can be carried out using the blend whereas said processes would have been problematic and/or failed when using only lignin to form the carbon fibre precursors. The thermoplastic elastomer is suitably a thermoplastic polyurethane. A carbon fibre precursor produced using the composition is also disclosed, as is a carbon fibre produced from said carbon fibre precursors. Methods of forming said carbon fibre precursors and carbon fibres are also disclosed.

A composition for use in the formation of a lignin-based carbon fibre precursor is disclosed. The composition is a blend of a lignin and at least 10 wt % of a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer may improve the mechanical properties of the lignin-based blend to the extent that conventional carbon fibre precursor formation processes can be carried out using the blend whereas said processes would have been problematic and/or failed when using only lignin to form the carbon fibre precursors. The thermoplastic elastomer is suitably a thermoplastic polyurethane. A carbon fibre precursor produced using the composition is also disclosed, as is a carbon fibre produced from said carbon fibre precursors. Methods of forming said carbon fibre precursors and carbon fibres are also disclosed.

Lignin compositions, products produced from them or containing them, methods to produce them, spinning methods, methods to convert lignin to a conversion product and conversion products produced by the methods are described.

Lignin compositions, products produced from them or containing them, methods to produce them, spinning methods, methods to convert lignin to a conversion product and conversion products produced by the methods are described.

The present invention relates to a conductive carbon powder emanating essentially from lignin, a method for the manufacturing thereof and use thereof. Said powder may emanate from an electrically conductive carbon intermediate product, in turn emanating essentially from lignin. Further, uses thereof and compositions comprising said carbon powder are disclosed. Additionally methods for manufacturing said conductive carbon powder, also involving an electrically conductive carbon intermediate product emanating essentially from lignin, are disclosed together with a method for making said compositions.

The present invention relates to a conductive carbon powder emanating essentially from lignin, a method for the manufacturing thereof and use thereof. Said powder may emanate from an electrically conductive carbon intermediate product, in turn emanating essentially from lignin. Further, uses thereof and compositions comprising said carbon powder are disclosed. Additionally methods for manufacturing said conductive carbon powder, also involving an electrically conductive carbon intermediate product emanating essentially from lignin, are disclosed together with a method for making said compositions.

Disclosed are methods for preparing a lignin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fiber and for preparing a lignin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber. The methods can comprise adding a dope of lignin and PVA or a dope of lignin and PAN to a coagulation bath containing a solvent comprising one or more components, wherein the one or more components are present in the solvent in concentrations based on the hydrogen bonding character (f.sub.H) of the solvent, the polar character (f.sub.P) of the solvent, and the dispersive character (f.sub.D) of the solvent; and gel-spinning a lignin/PVA fiber or a lignin/PAN fiber from the coagulation bath.