Dsm N.v.

Georgia-Pacific Corporation

Johannes A Kroon

Wim Buijs

Michael Eugene Carroll

Rudy F M J Parton

Pierre L Woestenborghs

Subrata Sen

Methods and systems are provided for improved liquefaction of a lignocellulosic biomass. The methods include reacting a lignocellulosic biomass slurry at mild conditions for a short period to produce a first reaction mixture having a reduced viscosity as compared to the lignocellulosic biomass slurry and that is substantially free of levulinic acid and hydroxymethylfurfural. The methods further include separating the first reaction mixture into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction having a majority of lignin from the lignocellulosic biomass slurry and the liquid fraction having a majority of hemicellulose and greater than about 30% by weight of cellulose from the lignocellulosic biomass slurry. The method advantageously prevents or eliminates the formation of tar and/or char.

Process for liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a phenol by oxidative decarboxylation of benzoic acid in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, wherein accumulation of tar components in the reactor is avoided by continuously removing a portion of the reaction mixture from the reactor and subjecting the removed portion to an extraction by contacting the removed portion with water and an auxiliary liquid, which auxiliary liquid is not miscible with water, wherein after extraction an aqueous liquid is obtained with benzoic acid and copper salts and an inorganic solution with tar components, wherein the aqueous solution is recycled to the reactor, the extraction being performed with 0.2 to 14 volume parts of auxiliary liquid per volume part of removed reaction mixture and with 0.5 to 10 volume parts of water per volume part of removed reaction mixture, the quantity of auxiliary liquid being so chosen that the resulting organic solution, containing auxiliary liquid, has a lower density than the aqueous solution, and the temperature during the extraction being higher than 80.degree. C.

Process for removal of tar in a phenol preparation process

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Heerlen, Netherlands

Johannes A Kroon