Biochemtex S.p.a.

Krishna Sharma

Aaron Patrick Murray

Steven Ryba

Guliz Arf Elliott

Dan Gastaldo

Edwin Andrew Sisson

Ehsan Moharreri

This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.

Continuous process for conversion of lignin to useful compounds

This specification discloses a process to convert a converted lignin feedstream to an aromatic composition comprised of aromatic compounds. The process follows the steps of exposing the converted lignin feedstream to at least one catalyst in the presence of donated hydrogen atoms at an exposure temperature greater than 190&#xb0; C. for a time of at least thirty minutes. The donated hydrogen atoms are donated from at least one hydrogen donating compound during exposure of the converted lignin feedstream to the at least one catalyst at the exposure temperature. The resulting products are comprised largely of aromatics.

This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The continuous process further utilizes nanoparticles of a crystalline metal oxide. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.

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Gurnee, IL, United States of America

Krishna Sharma