The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Ut-battelle, Inc.

Tennera, LLC

David P Harper

Nicole Labbe

Joseph Bozell

Timothy G Rials

Omid Hosseinaei

Amit Kumar Naskar

Dayakar Penumadu

Ngoc Anh Nguyen

Kokouvi M Akato

James Mynes

Stephen Andrew Young

Nathan Kieran Meek

Daniel Webb

Carbon fiber composites containing lignin carbon fibers are described. The lignin carbon fibers can be derived from organosolv lignin obtained from single source lignocellulosic feedstocks or combinations of such feedstocks or lignin obtained via other pulping or extraction methods. Also described are methods of preparing the carbon fiber composites.

Method of producing carbon fibers and carbon fiber composites from plant derived lignin and its blends

A plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blend comprising a terephthalate-based polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, i.e., PET) homogeneously blended with a fatty acid or ester thereof, wherein said fatty acid or ester thereof is present in said polyester blend in an amount of 1-50 wt %. Also described herein is a method for producing a plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blend, the method comprising melt mixing a terephthalate-based polyester with a fatty acid or ester thereof at a temperature in a range of 230-250&#xb0; C. to produce said polyester blend, wherein said fatty acid or ester thereof is present in said polyester blend in an amount of 1-50 wt % and is homogeneously blended with said terephthalate-based polyester.

Plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blends containing fatty acids or esters thereof

A comprehensive process for treating lignocellulosic biomass in order to separate the biomass into its component parts, the process comprising: a) contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with a first solvent for a period of time and at a first temperature at a severity in the range of about 2 to about 4 to remove extractive components and a portion of ash from the biomass; b) contacting the biomass from step (a) with a second solvent, and optional catalyst, at a second temperature at a severity in the range of about 1 to 5 to remove hemicelluloses and additional ash from the biomass; and c) separating the biomass from step (b) into a lignin product and a cellulose product by contacting the biomass from step (b) with a third solvent at a severity in the range of about 1.5 to 5 to provide a spent liquor product and a solid fraction containing cellulose.

Comprehensive process for selectively separating lignocellulosic biomass into purified components with high yield

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Maryville, TN, United States of America

David P Harper