Upm-kymmene Corporation

Roel Westerhof

Andrea Gutierrez

Pekka Jokela

Bert Heesink

Sascha Kersten

Teemu Lindberg

The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignin () to renewable product (), wherein the process comprises the following steps; mixing () lignin () with aqueous solution () to obtain a mixture (); heating () the mixture () of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 350° C., under a pressure from 70 to 165 bar, to obtain a first product mix (); separating aqueous phase () and oil phase (), and optionally gas () and solids (), of the first product mix () of step (b); and heating () the oil phase () of step (c) and solvent () to obtain a second product mix (). The second product mix () can be used as such, it can be directed to separation () or it can be upgraded. The obtained liquid renewable product is suitable as chemicals, fuel, fuel components or feedstock for fuel production.

Two-stage process with thermal conversion

The present disclosure relates to the thermal liquefaction of lignin, and more particularly to lignin solvolysis of a lignin feedstock chosen based on its molecular weight. The process comprises subjecting a feed mixture () of lignin feedstock () and solvent () to a thermal liquefaction step by heating () the feed mixture () at a temperature between 360 and 420° C., separating () a liquid product mix () from a product mix (); and recirculating at least part of said liquid product mix () as an oil fraction of said solvent ().

Solvolysis process

The present disclosure relates to a process for converting a combined feedstock to renewable liquid product(s), wherein the ash content of the combined feedstock of lignin feedstock and a second renewable feedstock is low. The combined feedstock is mixed with solvent, followed by solvolysis to obtain a product mix. At least part of the product mix is recirculated as the oil fraction of said solvent. The present disclosure further concerns the use of the product mix as a renewable product or use of hydroprocessed oil obtained by the process.

Solvolysis process for combined feedstock

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling product slate of hydrothermal liquefaction by adjusting pH of hydrothermal liquefaction product aqueous phase. The pH of the hydrothermal liquefaction product aqueous phase can be adjusted by heating during hydrothermal liquefaction () a mix () comprising lignocellulosic feedstock () together with acids, alkalis and/or buffers () added under aqueous conditions. The method typically comprises separating () aqueous phase () and oil phase (), and optionally gas () and/or char (), of the obtained hydrothermal liquefaction product (). Preferably the separated aqueous phase () is recirculated to be mixedwith lignocellulosic feedstock ().

Controlling hydrothermal liquefaction

The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignocellulosic feedstock () to renewable product (), wherein the process comprises the following steps; treating () lignocellulosic feedstock () with aqueous solution () to obtain a mixture (); heating () the mixture () of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 340&#xb0; C., under a pressure from 90 to 120 bar, to obtain a first product mix (); separating aqueous phase () and oil phase (), and optionally gas () and solids (), of the first product mix () of step (b); and heating () the oil phase () of step (c) and solvent (). The heating () is optionally followed by fractionation () to obtain a light fraction () and a heavy fraction () and optionally a bottom residue fraction () and/or a gaseous fraction.

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Enschede, Netherlands

Roel Westerhof