Disclosed is a method for preparing a material of plant origin rich in phenolic acids, including at least one metal, including: preparing a material of plant origin chosen from: aquatic plants; materials rich in tannins; materials rich in lignin; and obtaining a material of plant origin, rich in phenolic acids, in which the ratio of the intensity of the vibration band of the C═O bond of the COOH group and the intensity of each of the vibration bands the aromatic ring determined in FT-IR is between 0.5 and 4. The material of plant origin is brought into contact with an effluent including from 0.1 to 1000 mg/l of at least one metal, thus obtaining a material of plant origin rich in phenolic acids including from 1 to 30% by weight of at least one metal relative to the total weight of the material.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a material of plant origin rich in phenolic acids, including at least one metal, including: preparing a material of plant origin chosen from: aquatic plants; materials rich in tannins; materials rich in lignin; and obtaining a material of plant origin, rich in phenolic acids, in which the ratio of the intensity of the vibration band of the C═O bond of the COOH group and the intensity of each of the vibration bands the aromatic ring determined in FT-IR is between 0.5 and 4. The material of plant origin is brought into contact with an effluent including from 0.1 to 1000 mg/l of at least one metal, thus obtaining a material of plant origin rich in phenolic acids including from 1 to 30% by weight of at least one metal relative to the total weight of the material.

Described herein are processes for one-step delignification and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin fraction a biomass feedstock. The lignin feedstock is derived from by-products of paper production and biorefineries. Additionally described is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function. Finally, also described herein is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function.

Described herein are processes for one-step delignification and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin fraction a biomass feedstock. The lignin feedstock is derived from by-products of paper production and biorefineries. Additionally described is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function. Finally, also described herein is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function.

The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for the synthesis of 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde (CMF) from saccharides in pure or crude form, the method comprising: (a) continuously contacting saccharides in pure or crude form, hydrochloric acid, and an organic solvent, by way of a continuous, biphasic-flow reactor assembly at a temperature from about 60 degrees C. to about 200 degrees C. and pressures from about 1 atmosphere to about 20 atmospheres, such that CMF is produced; (b) separating 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde by liquid/liquid and solid/liquid phase separation; (c) producing at least five kilograms per day with at least 50% yield. Embodiments of the present invention can produce CMF in a continuous fashion, with high yield and without degradation of CMF to such side products as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), 2-(2-hydroxyacetyl)furan (HAF) and levulinic acid (LA).

The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for the synthesis of 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde (CMF) from saccharides in pure or crude form, the method comprising: (a) continuously contacting saccharides in pure or crude form, hydrochloric acid, and an organic solvent, by way of a continuous, biphasic-flow reactor assembly at a temperature from about 60 degrees C. to about 200 degrees C. and pressures from about 1 atmosphere to about 20 atmospheres, such that CMF is produced; (b) separating 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde by liquid/liquid and solid/liquid phase separation; (c) producing at least five kilograms per day with at least 50% yield. Embodiments of the present invention can produce CMF in a continuous fashion, with high yield and without degradation of CMF to such side products as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), 2-(2-hydroxyacetyl)furan (HAF) and levulinic acid (LA).

The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) comprising the steps of: 1) dehydrating at least one saccharide selected from monosaccharides having 6 carbon atoms and disaccharides, oligosaccharides or polysaccharides formed from units having 6 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof in the presence of at least one quaternary ammonium salt R.sub.3R′N.sup.+X.sup.−; in which:—R, which is the same or different, represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.16 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group;—R′ belongs to the group consisting of: hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.16 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, monocyclic substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;—X.sup.− represents an anion selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, hydroxide, BF.sub.4.sup.− and PF.sub.6.sup.−; at a temperature of between 80 and 120° C., removing water from the reaction medium (dehydration stage) and obtaining a reaction mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt, HMF, any unreacted saccharide and having a water content of less than 30% by weight relative to the weight of the product HMF; 2) separating HMF from the said reaction mixture (separation stage).

Methods and processes for the production of valuable organic products and alcohols from biomass material using a closed-loop process having numerous advantages over prior production methods are described. In the process, the biomass is subjected to acid-catalyzed digestion, followed by a separation of the digestion product stream into a solid product stream and a liquid product stream, the liquid product stream thereafter undergoing acid-catalyzed dehydration in the presence of an organic solvent, and thereafter separating the organic products in the organic layer from the aqueous layer. During the process, aqueous and organic fluid streams are fed back into various portions of the production process to increase the concentration of active portions and maximize product recovery.

This invention relates to a method for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into ethyl esters of carboxylic acids. Said method consists of treating the biomass material with an oxidizing agent that is incorporated in an solution comprising one or more acids, one or more alcohols and water, and subsequently performing a catalytic reaction at a higher temperature using the same acidic solution into which a larger volume of alcohol is added, in such a way that the catalytic conversion occurs in a medium with a much higher concentration of alcohol, i.e. with a much higher alcohol-to-water wt ratio. Such a method results in relatively high yields of ethyl esters, such as ethyl esters of formic, acetic, and levulinic acids, while producing a low yield of dialkyl ethers, which are unwanted by-products. The concentration of the oxidizing agent in the pre-treatment step is preferably higher than 6.0 wt %. The oxidizing agent is preferably a Fenton or Fenton-type reagent, and most preferably hydrogen peroxide activated by Fe (II), and/or Ti (IV) ions. The alcohol is preferably ethanol, and when ethanol is used, diethyl ether is formed as the unwanted dialkyl ether by-product. Preferably, the biomass material is pelleted before treatment.

Provided are solid forms of 5-(halomethyl)furfural, including a crystalline form of 5-(chloromethyl)furfural. Provided are also methods for preparing solid forms of 5-(halomethyl)furfural by crystallization using certain solvents.