Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Other

Medical University of South Carolina

Ometric Corporation

John C Blackburn

Robert Paul Freese

Ryan J Priore

Michael L Myrick

David L Perkins

Jonathan H James

Michael A Lake

Leonard Zheleznyak

Luisa T M Profeta

There is provided a process for recovery of lignin from black liquor that contains either soluble or dispersed lignin, generating a 'liquid-lignin' at high yield. Lignin at elevated pH is precipitated by reducing the pH of the black liquor stream with carbon dioxide, at elevated temperature and pressure, creating two bulk fluid phases: a dense liquid-lignin phase and a light lignin-depleted phase. The dense liquid-lignin phase is separated and washed with a strong acid to displace metal cations from the lignin, creating a low-salt, randomly shaped lignin. If needed, especially for lignin recovered from kraft papermaking black-liquor streams, an oxidation step is included to eliminate negative odor for high value green chemistry applications.

Lignin product and process for making same

A process for recovery of lignin from black liquor that contains either soluble or dispersed lignin by generating a 'liquid lignin' at high yield is disclosed. Soluble lignin at a high pH is precipitated by reducing the pH of the black liquor stream by countercurrent reaction with carbon dioxide, at elevated temperature and pressure, creating a dense liquid-lignin phase and a light lignin-depleted phase. The dense lignin-rich phase is separated and washed countercurrently with a non-sulfur containing acid, such as acetic acid or formic acid, to displace metal cations from the lignin, creating a low-salt lignin, which is then formed into a low-dust, high-bulk density lignin fuel pellet. If desired, an oxidation step may be used to eliminate odor for lignins having high value green chemistry applications.

Process for treating lignin

There is provided a process for recovery of lignin from a black liquor that contains either soluble or dispersed lignin, generating a 'liquid lignin' at high yield. Soluble lignin at elevated pH is precipitated by reducing the pH of the black liquor stream by countercurrent reaction with carbon dioxide, at elevated temperature and pressure, creating two bulk fluid phases: a heavy lignin-rich phase and a light lignin-depleted phase. The heavy lignin-rich phase is separated and washed countercurrently with a strong acid to displace metal cations from the lignin, creating a low-salt lignin, which is then formed into a low-dust high-bulk-density lignin fuel pellet. If needed, especially for lignin recovered from kraft papermaking black-liquor streams, an oxidation step is included to eliminate negative odor for high-value green-chemistry applications.

Process for recovering lignin

A process for recovery of lignin from black liquor that contains either soluble or dispersed lignin by generating a 'liquid lignin' at high yield is disclosed. Soluble lignin at a high pH is precipitated by reducing the pH of the black liquor stream by countercurrent reaction with carbon dioxide, at elevated temperature and pressure, creating a heavy lignin-rich phase and a light lignin-depleted phase. The heavy lignin-rich phase is separated and washed countercurrently with a non-sulfur containing acid, such as acetic acid, to displace metal cations from the lignin, creating a low-salt lignin, which is then formed into a low-dust, high-bulk density lignin fuel pellet. If desired, an oxidation step may be used to eliminate odor for lignins having high value green chemistry applications.

A method of classifying information in an optical analysis system includes obtaining calibration data defining a plurality of data points, each data point representing values for two or more detectors when sampling a material used to construct a multivariate optical element. Based on the calibration data, one or more validation models can be developed to indicate one or more ranges of expected results. Validation data comprising the models can be used to compare data points representing values for two or more detectors when performing a measurement of a material to determine if the data points fall within an expected range. Classification data can be generated based on the comparison and, in some embodiments, one or more indicators, such as a confidence level in a measurement, can be provided.

Data validation and classification in optical analysis systems

Methods of selecting spectral elements and system components for a multivariate optical analysis system include providing spectral calibration data for a sample of interest; identifying a plurality of combinations of system components; modeling performance of a pilot system with one of the combinations of system components; determining optimal characteristics of the pilot system; and selecting optimal system components from among the combinations of system components.

Selecting spectral elements and components for optical analysis systems

A method of real-time processing and monitoring comprises the steps of blending a material of interest (e.g., an active pharmaceutical material), with a secondary material, (e.g., an excipient), illuminating the blended materials with light, reflecting light carrying information about the blended materials through at least one multivariate optical element () and detecting said light with a first detector (), detecting a deflected portion of the information carrying light with a second detector (), and determining in real-time at least one selected property of the blended materials based on the detector outputs.

Optical analysis system for dynamic real-time detection and measurement

A method of using multivariate optical computing in real-time to collect instantaneous data about a process stream includes installing an optical analysis system proximate a process line, the process line being configured to move a material past a window of the optical analysis system; illuminating a portion of the material with a light from the optical analysis system; directing the light carrying information about the portion through at least one multivariate optical element in the optical analysis system to produce an instantaneous measurement result about the portion; and continuously averaging the instantaneous measurement result over a period of time to determine an overall measurement signal of the material.

In-line process measurement systems and methods

A method of high-speed processing and monitoring of a product, such as a pharmaceutical powder or tablet, comprises: moving the product (C) past an inspection station; illuminating at least a portion of the product with light; spectrally filtering a first portion of light carrying information about the product, o.g., transmitted or reflected light, by passing said first portion through at least one multivariate optical element () and detecting said filtered light with a first detector (), &#x2014;detecting a deflected second portion of said light with a second detector (); and determining at least one selected property of the product based on the detector outputs.

Method of high-speed monitoring based on the use of multivariate optical elements

The present subject matter relates to multivariate optical analysis systems employ multivariate optical elements and utilize multivariate optical computing methods to determine information about a product carried by light reflected from or transmitted through the product. An exemplary method of processing and monitoring the product includes introducing the product at an inspection point; illuminating the product with a spectral-specific light though an optic lens; directing the light that has passed through at least a section of the product through at least one multivariate optical element to produce a first signal, the directed light carrying information about the product; detecting the signal at a detector; and determining at least one property of the product based upon the detector output.

Tablet analysis and measurement system

An optical analysis system and method for determining information carried by light include a multivariate optical element disposed in the system to receive a source light from an illumination source; filtering the source light through a spectral element in the optical element analysis system; reflecting the filtered light through an inner region of a cavity in a first direction of a sample to be measured, the cavity defining a second region disposed about the inner region; focusing the reflected light proximate the sample; reflecting the focused light from the sample through the second region in a second direction of a beamsplitter, the light being reflected from the sample carrying data from the sample; splitting the sample carrying light with the beamsplitter into a first light and a second light; optically filtering the data of the first light with the multivariate optical element into an orthogonal component; directing the first light filtered by the multivariate optical element onto a first photodetector; directing the second light onto a second photodetector; and comparing the orthogonal component to information present in the second light to determine a property of the sample.

Optical analysis system and method for real time multivariate optical computing

A method of arranging and utilizing a multivariate optical computing and analysis system includes transmitting light from a light source; reflecting the light from the sample; directing a portion of the light reflected from the sample with a beamsplitter; and arranging an optical filter mechanism in a normal incidence orientation to receive the light reflected from the sample, the optical filter mechanism configured to filter and measure data carried by the light reflected from the sample.

Optical analysis system and methods for operating multivariate optical elements in a normal incidence orientation

Methods of assessing feasibility of a project include receiving a datum from a customer; designing an application specific system based on the datum; analyzing the datum; evaluating a set of input parameters to determine an applicability of the application specific system to a customer process; and providing feedback for the customer process with the application specific system.

Methods of assessing and designing an application specific measurement system

A method of selecting components for a multivariate optical computing and analysis system to isolate a spectral region includes selecting a spectral region of interest; selecting a spectral element with a predetermined transmission characteristic to control a spectral range of an illumination source; illuminating a sample with the illumination source; and analyzing an optical frequency returned by the sample relative to the spectral region of interest.

Optical analysis system and elements to isolate spectral region

A method of developing a multivariate optical element for an optical analysis system includes forming an optically absorptive spectral element having an optically absorptive material, the optically absorptive material being absorbing in a predetermined spectral region; and utilizing the optically absorptive spectral element in the optical analysis system.

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Charleston, SC, United States of America

John C Blackburn